Andhra Pradesh received routine intelligence inputs about the likelihood of terrorist attacks like other States did in the wake of hangings of Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru, said Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy here on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference after visiting the site of twin bomb blasts, he said a general alert was issued to all the States. When his attention was drawn to the statement of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde that intelligence alerts were sent to several States, Mr. Reddy said that such alerts were sent routinely from time to time. He said even railways were issued such alerts and they had taken necessary steps.
Mr. Shinde had stated that the government had received intelligence warning about the blasts. Agency reports quoted him as saying that “we were receiving information for the last two days that such a blast may take place”. The Chief Minister, in response to a question whether there was intelligence failure, said this would be known only after the investigations were completed.
Director General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy separately stated that there were no specific inputs or alerts about the possibility of bomb blasts. There were only routine alerts.
No credible inputs: CS
Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew said here on Thursday that the government did not receive any credible intelligence inputs about the likelihood of bomb blasts in the city.
When contacted by The Hindu immediately after the bomb blasts in Dilsukhnagar, Ms. Mathew said, “To the best of my knowledge, we did not get intelligence alerts.”
She made this statement when it was taken to her notice that the intelligence agencies had sounded an alert two days ago to various States of impending blasts at various places. The matter had also been reportedly discussed at the Union Cabinet’s meet.
Meanwhile, at a press briefing in the national capital, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde stated that the government had received intelligence warning about the blasts. Agency reports quoted him as saying that “we were receiving information for the last two days that such a blast may take place”.
