Role of local elements in mosque blast not ruled out

The Government is not ruling out the involvement of “local elements” in the explosion, which occurred at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad

The Government is not ruling out the involvement of “local elements” in the explosion, which occurred at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad today. As investigation officers piece together the evidence at the site, intelligence agencies are trying to see if there is a pattern that links the explosion to earlier blasts in Malegaon, the Samjhauta Express and even last year’s low-intensity blast in the Capital’s Jama Masjid.

When it comes those who planned and executed the explosion, the needle of suspicion, sources said, pointed to the Deendar Anjuman. The group had been outlawed by the Government in 2001 for alleged attacks on churches in south India as part of its anti-Christian movement and still has its presence in Hyderabad. Officials, however, maintained that other groups were also under the scanner and a clear picture would emerge only after the investigations were complete.

“The explosion seems to have been executed by a local group with some external help,” an official said on the basis of initial information. The assessment is that it was a targetted at Muslims during the Friday prayers to create a communal divide and spark off clashes in Hyderabad and other cities. Top Home Ministry sources maintained there was no “clear indication” of who was involved, but a terrorist attack was not ruled out.

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A close look at the earlier blasts, including the one at Jama Masjid where a terrorist angle had been virtually ruled out, has also been prompted by the nature of the explosive used today—an improvised explosive device—in all probability, using ammonium nitrate.

“There are similarities to the earlier blasts,” an official said. Like in some of the earlier strikes, the idea here also seems to have been to create panic since it was a low-intensity explosion. The casualty could, however, have been higher if two other IEDs also planted at the site had gone off.

YSR Reddy, meanwhile, described the explosion as an act of “intentional sabotage” aimed at disturbing peace in Hyderabad. He admitted that incidents like this could hinder progress and development. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the dead and Rs 20,000 to the injured.

The Centre has sent a forensic team to Hyderabad and placed the Rapid Action Force (RAF) at the state Government’s disposal in Hyderabad. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil spoke to Reddy and assured all possible help to maintain law and order.