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Weekend Terror Strikes Hyderabad; 42 Dead, 60 Injured - UPDATE 2 |
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Written by Sapna Mhatre
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Monday, 27 August 2007 |
The weekend terror strikes in the southern city of Hyderabad have thus far claimed 42 lives and have injured 60 others. Inquiries by police have resulted in some leads that point toward the involvement of Islamic fundamentalists from Pakistan and Bangladesh, according to official reports.
Police have also defused two other bombs planted in areas with high citizen presence. They say the make of these bombs is similar to those that caused the blasts at the historic Mecca Masjid in May this year.
Initial investigations into the twin blasts in the southern city of Hyderabad have pointed the finger of suspicion to Pakistan and Bangladesh-based terror groups, according to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Yesterday's blasts have left at least 42 people dead and another 60 injured. It is being descried as the worst terror attack in Hyderabad since the Mecca Masjid blasts, which killed 12 people in May this year. The blasts occurred at Lumbini Park on Necklace Road and the Gokul Chat shop in Koti.
Lumbini Park is located near the state Secretariat and today thousands of people had gathered there in order to watch a laser show off the Hussain Sagar Lake. It is reported that nine people were killed here, while dozens were injured. The blast occurred at 1930 hrs IST.
The Gokul chaat shop blast took place at 1935 IST. Gokul chat shop is a popular weekend haunt and people had gathered there in scores. At least 33 people were killed on the spot in this shop.
The injured were admitted to Medicity Hospital in the city. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condemned the blasts and has asked people to maintain calm. Meanwhile Chief Minister YSR Reddy has called for an emergency meeting of his cabinet to assess the situation.
Meanwhile the police have reportedly defused bombs placed in Lumbini Park and Venkatadri Theatre. Police said the bombs were fitted with timers and were placed in plastic bags. The explosives were manufactured at Amin Chemicals in Nagpur.
Chief Minister Reddy has announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs to each family of those killed in the blasts and a government job to the families who lost their earning members. Additionally he has also allotted Rs 20,000 to those injured in the blasts.
Speaking to reporters after an emergency meeting of the state cabinet, Reddy said, "As things stand today, the available information points to the involvement of international terrorist organizations in Bangladesh and Pakistan."
Reacting to reports that the state had prior intelligence of supposed terror attacks, Reddy said there was no intelligence failure and that it was impossible to maintain "our network in Bangladesh or Pakistan to get information about such kinds of acts.”
India has faced a spate of terror attacks in recent times. South India appears to be a popular target among terrorists because of recent incidents there. In February 2005 there was an attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and then in May this year the Mecca Masjid blasts took place.
This is the latest terror attack in a rapidly growing southern city. Meanwhile today is thought to be an auspicious day for mass marriages and the government here has announced tight security in order to see that untoward incidents do not take place.
Police are also maintaining a strict vigil on trouble spots in and around the city. Meanwhile top metros including Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore are on high alert following the Hyderabad incident.
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