Bombs in Hyderabad, a 24 hour strike in protest
Hyderabad (AsiaNews) – Shops, schools and collages remain closet today in Hyderabad, southern Andhra Pradesh. The opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp), has called for the 24 hour protest following the two deadly explosions which hit the city August 25th last. The two bombs planted in a shopping centre and in a public theatre killed 42 people injuring a further 60.
Chief Minister YS Rajshekhar Reddy said, “Terrorist organisations based in Pakistan and Bangladesh” are to blame, but local sources point the finger at Hindu fundamentalism. The newly elected president Pratibha Patil is convinced that the bombs aimed to destroy the inter-religious harmony prevalent in Hyderabad. Out of a total population of 6.5 million, circa 40% are Muslim the rest Hindu. Following an emergency cabinet meeting, Reddy announced a compensation package of 500 thousand Rupees (14, 800 dollars) for the victim’s families.
Meanwhile investigations proceed. From New Delhi, reinforces have been sent to Hyderabad. Police sources also speak of 19 other unexploded devices found in public areas around the city, such as cinemas, bus stops and pedestrian crossings. Security measures have been raised to the maximum alert to avoid an explosion of inter-confessional violence.
According to data published by Times of India – citing sources such as the Worldwide Incidents Tracking System (WITS) of the US National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) – the Indian Union is second only to Iraq for the quantity of deaths to terrorist attacks. In the period running from January 2004 to March 2007 3, 674 people have been killed; the worst hit areas: Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Malegaon, and Varanasi, Jammu and Kashmir.
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08/03/2006
