Hidden behind last week’s twin blasts in Hyderabad are the nefarious designs of terrorists who wanted to trigger communal riots in the historic city. A small incident could flare up tensions in a highly polarised society that had recently witnessed vitriolic speeches by controversial leaders, both Hindu and Muslim, say sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
An apparently failed attempt to target the famous Sai Baba temple at Dilsukhnagar, a few metres from the blast sites, that too on a Thursday when devotees throng there in huge numbers, points to a deep-rooted conspiracy. Terrorists might have changed their plan to plant a bomb or bombs in the temple or close to it in a bid to maximise casualties, as there was heavy police deployment in view of Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma’s visit to the shrine, the sources noted.
Intelligence reports say the highly objectionable speeches by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi near Hyderabad, for which he was arrested, and then by senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia have vitiated the atmosphere in the city. Recent weeks have seen a strong communal undercurrent building up with local religious leaders trying to polarise society. Any small incident could lead to serious law and order problems, and hence the Sai Baba temple might have been the possible target, the sources said.
Though MHA officials are tight-lipped on who could be behind the blasts, the sources said prima facie these appeared to be the handiwork of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), while the plan might have been executed by the Indian Mujahideen (IM). Notably, Hyderabad has been a hub of IM activities. “LeT has been a worrying factor for us. They provide technical expertise and material related to bomb manufacturing to IM members, besides funding their operations from overseas,” a senior official said.
But the Union government is not naming who could be behind the blasts. It is treading cautiously. For, the Centre, after initially blaming Pakistan-based terror groups for the blasts at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad and at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, had to concede that the incidents could be the handiwork of some Hindu fundamentalists.
According to Minister of State for Home RPN Singh: “Whatever evidence the investigative agencies have collected [in the Hyderabad incident] has been sent for forensic examination. There are leads … we are looking into it.”
Refusing to say anything more, he said: “At the moment we cannot share the details…but the perpetrators of this barbaric act will be caught and the strictest punishment will be given.”
The MHA sources said the probe would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) once all the initial probe and other groundwork were completed by the Hyderabad police. “Currently, the NIA, the Intelligence Bureau and National Security Guard officials are assisting the State police in the investigation … but soon the NIA will take full charge as initial leads suggest that the terrorists behind it have multistate footprints, and the NIA has the powers and expertise to deal with such cases. But the Hyderabad police will always be kept in the loop,” a senior official said.
Keywords: Ministry of Home Affairs, Hyderabad blasts, communal clash
why abolish death penalty. this exposes typical fear of being attacked again. according to the extremists, any future death penalties will be reacted only by few more bomb blasts. and traditionally our government will keep numb also to go by vote calculations.
every metro dweller is developing an insecured feeling after this responsive blast.
Today we truly are minorities in action,speech and very right for existence.
Hyderabad police is a well known anti-Muslims force and if it was asked
to investigate it will only frame some innocent or unconnected Muslims
as they did in the previous blasts and torture them.Home Minister should
have been wiser in involving the NIA from the beginning.
Please abolish death punishment, but instead harshest punishment should mandatorily include cutting of all limbs, genitals, tongue, puncturing of the ear drums, pluck out the eye balls, donate 1 kidney of the accused to needy ...Once such punishments are included in IPC and awarded to all such accused you will certainly see a decline in the crime rate in this country!
Why does'nt the cops keep tabs on the DJS and it activities? besides MIM, this organisation is highly communal and it is surprising to know how they can boast of a highly offensive name of their organisation which translates as door of jihad and martydom???? Police should take strict legal action on these organisations .
Just one person, irrespective of the religion, his speech can bring devastating results. In future, the central govt should come up with (whoever ruling the centre) a stringet law to put behind the bars whosoever make a hate speach. We, the ordinary indians, dont gain anything by the derogatory speaches of the political leaders, on the contrary, it is the common man who lose their life. The hate speach delivered leaders would be sitting safely at their home, while the common public fall prey for the brain washed fundamental cadres of either religion. Those who dare to deliver hate-speach should be behind the bars for a minimum tanure of 10 years. Let them rot in the jail.
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