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Mecca Masjid blast

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Mecca Masjid Bombing
LocationHyderabad, India17°21′36″N 78°28′24″E / 17.360106°N 78.473427°E / 17.360106; 78.473427
Date18 May 2007
13:15 (IST (UTC+5.30))
TargetMecca Masjid
Attack type
RDX activated by Mobile
Deaths16
Injured100
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The Mecca Masjid bombing occurred on May 18, 2007 inside the Mecca Masjid, a mosque the old city area in Hyderabad, capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh[4] located very close to Charminar. The blast was caused by a cellphone-triggered pipe bomb.[5] Fourteen people were reported dead in the immediate aftermath, of whom five(official record:disputed) were killed by the police firing after the incident while trying to quell the mob.[5]

Overview

According to the Deccan Chronicle, the bomb comprised a high explosive substance filled in a 10-inch (250 mm) by 3-inch (76 mm) pipe. The Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory claims that RDX and TNT were used in the 10 inches (25 cm) by 3 inches (7.6 cm) pipe bomb. The bomb was placed under a heavy granite slab that broke in two. Police later said that the slab had taken the force of the impact and saved many lives.

The blast occurred near the open air section of the Mecca Masjid. At the time of the blast more than 10,000 people were inside the mosque premises, for the Friday prayers. The injured were treated at the Osmania hospital in Hyderabad.

Following this Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra were put on alert. State Home Minister K Jana Reddy said the blast, which injured over fifty people in addition to the death toll, could be the act of foreign elements.

Rioting and Police firing

Five individuals died as a result of the police firing. This has caused considerable controversy. The Telegraph reports[6]:

Six rounds were fired in the afternoon and evening to prevent shops and public property from being damaged, including petrol pumps and ATMs. One person was killed in the firing in the Moghapura area, while two fell to the police bullets elsewhere. Another lost his life when the police had to pull the trigger to control a mob trying to break into an ATM.
According to police commissioner Balwinder Singh, his men resorted to firing after water cannons, tear gas and baton-charge failed to bring the mob fury under control.

It is reported that[7] a frenzied mob attacked state-owned road transport corporation buses, forcing the closure of Falaknuma bus depot.

According to the police, the rioters were trying to set fire to a petrol pump.[8] Inspector P. Sudhakar of Falaknuma police station, who has been removed from his position on the charge of opening fire `indiscriminately' to control the rampaging mobs[9] stated:

"While I asked my subordinates to be on high alert, mobs from Shalibanda and the mosque came towards Moghalpura pelting stones. They set ablaze a wine shop and charged towards a petrol pump where we were stationed."
The mobs took out petrol from the dispenser and sprinkled it on the room. "When they tried to ignite it with the help of dry grass, I ordered my men to open fire with .303 rifles to disperse them," he says. "As the situation turned worse, I sought additional forces. Quick Reaction teams along with Moghalpura Inspector arrived and scattered the crowd by opening fire." At least 10 persons, including policemen, could have been killed if fire orders were not issued, he insists.

Suspected bombers

The United Progressive Alliance-led government, National Investigation Agency[10][11], Central Bureau of Investigation[12] and Anti Terror Squad (India)[13] have uncovered the role of RSS linked extremists[14][15][16] behind the Mecca Masjid bombing[17]. Earlier, the South Asia Terrorism Portal[18], the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses[19], the National Counterterrorism Center[20] the United States[21], and the United Nations[22]reported that Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami was actually behind the attacks based on initial investigations. Noting this, security analyst Bahukutumbi Raman has questioned "the two different versions that have emerged from Indian and American investigators." accepting that this could be possible because Indian authorities have not updated their counterparts in the US and UN.[23].

On November 19, 2010, the Central Bureau of Investigation produced the preacher Swami Asimanand before the court in connection with the Mecca Masjid blast in Hyderabad in May 2007. The court remanded Swami Asimanand to CBI custody till 30th of November and was taken to Chanchalguda Jail. He was nabbed in Haridwar on Friday and was brought to Hyderabad today. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi had granted CBI the transit remand of Swami for two days. Other cases that he has been linked with include 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings, 2008 Malegoan & Modasa bombing and Ajmer Sharif Dargah Blast.[24][25][26][27]

See also

References

  1. ^ The Mirror Explodes - Outlook - July 19, 2010
  2. ^ Arrest of Some Hindus as Terrorists- Getting Curiouser & Curiouser South Asia Analysis Group - August 7, 2010
  3. ^ Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) South Asia Terrorism Portal
  4. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6668695.stm Article on BBC website
  5. ^ a b bomb in Mecca Masjid
  6. ^ The Telegraph - Calcutta : Nation
  7. ^ Mob violence after Hyd blast, 4 killed : hyderabad, blast, mecca masjid, char minar, police firing, mob violence : IBNLive.com : CNN-IBN
  8. ^ Decoding the Hyderabad blast
  9. ^ I've acted to avert a disaster: Inspector
  10. ^ http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/cops-nab-terror-suspects-441
  11. ^ http://www.siasat.com/english/news/mecca-masjid-blast-accused-also-linked-samjhauta-train-attack-nia
  12. ^ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article993217.ece
  13. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ATS-may-grill-Aseemanand-before-tackling-Indresh/articleshow/7169472.cms
  14. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ATS-may-grill-Aseemanand-before-tackling-Indresh/articleshow/7169472.cms
  15. ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mosque-blast-RSS-man-grilled/H1-Article1-641887.aspx
  16. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/RSS-leader-grilled-for-Hindu-terror/articleshow/7154024.cms
  17. ^ HuJI ban takes no note of 'Hindu terror' role Times of India - August 8, 2010
  18. ^ Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) - South Asia Terrorism Portal
  19. ^ HuJI after the Death of its India Chief Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses - February 13, 2008
  20. ^ ‘Huji, not Hindu group, behind Mecca Masjid blast’ Hindustan Times - September 23, 2010
  21. ^ US, UN declare HuJI as terrorist organisation Times of India - August 8, 2010
  22. ^ US, UN declare HuJI a terror group NDTV - August 7, 2010
  23. ^ Bahukutumbi Raman (7 August 2010). "Arrest of Some Hindus as Terrorists- Getting Curiouser & Curiouser". South Asia Analysis Group. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  24. ^ http://www.rediff.com/news/report/why-swami-aseemanand-is-a-prize-catch-for-the-cbi/20101119.htm
  25. ^ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/-Swami-Aseemanand-sheltered-Best-Bakery-accused-on-the-run-/713969
  26. ^ "Aseemanand arrest: Major boost to Ajmer dargah blast probe". The Times Of India. November 19, 2010.
  27. ^ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Swami-aseemanand-sheltered-be.../713969/
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