The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Red alert sounded in State

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Friday, Nov 28, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Red alert sounded in State

Special Correspondent

Jana Reddy denies charge that the terrorists had their roots in Hyderabad

–Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

On Alert: Security has been stepped up in Hyderabad for vital and economic installations, pilgrim centres, VIPs and tourist spots frequented by foreigners.

HYDERABAD: A red alert has been sounded all over Andhra Pradesh and security stepped up for vital and economic installations, pilgrim centres, VIPs and tourist spots frequented by foreigners, in the wake of terror attacks in Mumbai.

The vigil has been stepped up in Hyderabad which witnessed terror attacks earlier besides the holy places in Tirumala-Tirupati and Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, economic nerve centres.

The entire police force in the State has been geared up to meet any challenge, declared Home Minister K. Jana Reddy at a press conference after separate reviews of the law and order situation by Chief Secretary P. Ramakantha Reddy and himself with the top brass of police. Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who is in New Delhi and issued instructions to both of them on the steps to be taken.

The Minister said the police presence would be made visible every where and “Rakshaks” would move about places to instil confidence among people. In Hyderabad, 180 mobile police parties were put on special alert and 75 police pickets opened to check vehicles and suspicious characters. Marine police along the State’s 960-km long “vulnerable” coastline were activated.

Hospitals, both government and private, have been kept ready to meet medical emergencies, if any. Private establishments had been asked to follow the prescribed security measures in allowing in visitors.

Responding to questions, the Minister denied that the intelligence system was ineffective, saying that Kerala police nabbed one accused recently in Hyderabad and Maharashtra police two others in Pune due to the inputs provided by the city police.

Mr. Jana Reddy also denied the charge that the terrorists had their roots in Hyderabad, stating that word Deccan in “Mujahideen Hyderabad Deccan” used by ultras denoted the entire area from Pune to Bangalore and not Hyderabad alone.

Director General of Police S. S. P. Yadav spoke of several terrorist groups working in India and of East Pakistani refugees staying back here after 1971 Pakistan war. The demand raised Hyderabad and Junagadh states for Muslims was a new slogan coined by fundamentalists to attract Muslim youth.

Under the Constitution, any citizen could visit any where. It would be difficult to suspect a person unless his background was known, he said in reference to issue of a ration card to a Pakistani national in Hyderabad recently.

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