| While 11 people died in the explosion inside the mosque during Friday prayers, five persons were killed in the police firing in the old city soon after the blast, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy told reporters here today. |
| As many as 61 people were injured in the blast, he added. |
| Earlier, there was confusion over the number of persons killed in police firing at Shah-Ali-Banda, about a kilometre from the blast site, to quell the rampaging mob. |
| The relief package announced by the government, including Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia, a house and a government job to each bereaved family, would apply to victims of the blast and police firing, the Chief Minister said. |
| Apart from this, the Prime Minister's Office had last night announced Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia to each bereaved family. |
| Updated at 0100 hrs: At least 10 people were killed and 55 injured when a bomb went off inside the historic Mecca Masjid near Charminar in Hyderabad on Friday afternoon. Though police confirmed that the death toll in the blast rose to 10-12 from the earlier five, unconfirmed reports put the total toll even higher with at least three people allegedly killed in police firing during the riots that erupted in the old city soon after the incident. Police recovered two live bombs kept in a bag. They said evidence from the spot showing that the explosive was remotely activated through a cell phone pointed to the fact that the blast was part of a well thought-out conspiracy. By evening, the situation was brought under control though it continues to be tense. Soon after the blast, mobs resorted to damaging shops and pelting stones on the vehicles, which led to police firing in a couple of places. The Andhra Pradesh government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the family of each of the deceased besides arranging treatment for the injured in both the government and private hospitals. Earlier, reacting to the incident, home minister K Jana Reddy said there was a possibility of a deep conspiracy behind the incident. He said even the role of ISI was also not ruled out while responding to a question. The government has deployed additional police forces in the old city and neighbouring areas while increasing police vigil at religious places across the state. No untoward incident was reported anywhere in the state though people of a religious community held protest rallies at a few places. The blast occurred in the afternoon when hundreds of Muslims had gathered at the mosque to offer Friday prayers. Jana Reddy said security had been beefed up in all the districts and additional forces, including greyhounds and Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP), were deployed in the old city and other places to avert any untoward incident. About 15 police personnel received minor injuries in the stone pelting incident. Earlier, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed the situation from Delhi and appealed to the people to co-operate with the law and order machinery and stay calm. It was for the first time that such a blast had occurred in the premises of Mecca Masjid. The city, once known for communal volatility, has remained peaceful for the past several years except a suicide bomb attack that took place at the police task force office a couple of years back. A bandh has been called in Hyderabad and Secunderabad tomorrow to protest the terror attack. |
| No group claimed responsibility for the blast which state police chief S A Basith said was remotely triggered with a mobile phone. Updated at 1900 hrs: Union Home Minister Sivaraj Patil is to visit Hyderabad along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who has cut short his Delhi visit, to take stock of the situation following the Mecca Masjid bomb blast that took place this afternoon, which killed six and injured over 30 people. The Union Home Ministry has sent an advisory to all states to maintain communal harmony and law and order in the wake of the Hyderabad mosque explosion. While leaving for the blast site to oversee security arrangements, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K Jana Reddy said there was a possibility of a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the blast, and the state police would investigate the incident from all angles. Responding to a question, he said the role of ISI could not be ruled out. According to Jana Reddy, the police recovered two live bombs from the blast site and defused them. According to reports, six people were killed and more than 30, including a couple of children, were injured in the blast that occurred in the afternoon when hundreds of Muslims had gathered at the mosque to offer Friday prayers. One person was also killed in police firing when they opened fire on mobs, which tried to damage shops and property in the vicinity of the mosque to protest against the incident which had immediately downed their shutters after the blast. Jana Reddy said security had been beefed up in all the districts and additional forces were deployed in the old city and other places to avert untoward incidents. Meanwhile, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed the situation from Delhi, and appealed to the people to co-operate with the law and order machinery. (BS Reporter) Blast an act of intentional sabotage: Reddy The blast at the Mecca Mosque in Hyderabad was an act of "intentional sabotage" by "anti-social elements" to disturb peace and tranquility, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said today. "It is an intentional sabotage to disturb the peace and harmony in the state. Anti-social elements want to see that different communities do not not live in peace," he told reporters here. Reddy said the explosion occurred where the faithful perform ablutions before going for prayers. "Two live bombs were recovered from the spot and defused. Had they exploded, situation could have been more serious," he said adding some gunny bags were also recovered. Reddy said the state had been getting intelligence inputs from the central intelligence agencies and local detectives. The situation was reviewed from time-to-time and necessary precautionary measures were being taken, he said. "Some inputs were coming in the last two or two and half months that some elements were trying to disturb peace. All steps were taken. But still such things do happen," he said. Appealing to the people to maintain calm, he said government is making all efforts to bring the situation back to normal. He spoke to state Home Minister K Jana Reddy and Director General of Police M A Basith and reviewed the situation. Reddy announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the dead and Rs 20,000 to those hurt in the blasts. (PTI) 'RDX used in explosions' Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said RDX was used in the bomb blast that ripped through the historic Mecca Masjid here today. "We have information that RDX was used in the explosion. We are confident of identifying the culprits very soon," Reddy told reporters after visiting the injured at Osmania General Hospital here. President, PM condemn blast |
| President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today condemned the bomb blast in a mosque in Hyderabad, and asked people to maintain peace and communal harmony. |
| In letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y Rajasekhara Reddy, President Kalam strongly condemned the blast at the Mecca mosque in Charminar area in which six persons were killed and several injured. |
| "I am sure the state government is taking all steps to provide help to the injured and to the families of the deceased," the President said. |
| He also conveyed condolences to the families of the bereaved and prayed for early recovery of the injured, President's press secretary S M Khan said. |
| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also condemned the blast, and urged members of all communities to maintain peace and communal harmony, PM's media adviser Sanjaya Baru said in a statement. |
| He said the Prime Minister has conveyed his condolences to the relatives of the victims. (PTI) |
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