Andhra Pradesh Home Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy on Saturday said she was confident the police would crack the Dilsukhanagar twin blasts case and added that 15 teams had been pressed into service to trace the culprits.
Addressing a media conference after a high level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, she announced a Rs. 10-lakh reward for anyone who gave information that could help solve the case.
Ms. Reddy said the government had decided to install closed-circuit (CC) cameras within six months in about 3,500 locations in the city at an estimated cost of Rs. 450 crore. The government would make installation of surveillance cameras mandatory in malls, hospitals, cinema halls and other places which attract crowds.
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On the progress made by the investigators, she said: “The Central and State governments are confident of achieving some breakthrough very soon.” The Counter Intelligence Force of the State, those from the CID and the National Investigation Agency were on the job.
Ms. Reddy denied that the police had ignored any bomb threat call.
The alleged involvement of the Indian Mujahideen in the blasts was yet to be established, she noted.
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In all, 16 persons were killed in the ghastly incident and 15 bodies were handed over to the family members concerned. Of the injured, the condition of six persons is critical.
Intelligence failure?
Asked about criticism over alleged intelligence failure, Ms. Reddy said investigation was under progress and if any laxity was found action would be initiated against those responsible. She, however, added that the State had stepped up searches and checks whenever the Centre issued alerts. Though the vulnerable areas were scanned thoroughly only 15 days ago the blasts could not be prevented.
Meanwhile, city Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said no one had yet been taken into custody so far, and Abdul Wasey, twice injured in terror attacks, was not a suspect in the case. The city police team has merely recorded his statement and spoken to his family members. Wasey was working in a footwear shop close to the blast spot.