Blast in Mecca Masjid Hyderabad leaves 5 dead and 15 injured

May 18: A serious bomb blast at Asia’s biggest mosque in Hyderabad, the Mecca Masjid, near historic Charminar, left 6 dead and many more injured. Blast took place when the people were getting ready to offer prayers.

Masjid premises was rocked by a powerful blast in the afternoon which sent shock waves within the gathering and adjacent areas. Within few minutes people rushed out of the mosque and were joined by the people from adjoining areas. Injured were rushed to the nearby hospitals and some of them were referred to Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad.

State officials are yet to come out with the details of victims but people present in the area confirmed that 6 persons are dead and 15 more are wounded.

Bomb disposal squad was rushed towards the spot. Police officials confirmed that two more bombs were present near the spot which were diffused by the squad.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister, YSR Reddy has declared compensation of 5 lakh rupees to the next of the kin of victims and 20,000 rupees for the injured. He was in Delhi when blast took place. Before leaving for Hyderabad, he contacted top officials of the state through teleconference.

``This is an internal sabotage on the peace and tranquility of the state�, he added. He has appealed to the people to keep restraint. As locals have raised voice against the police, he further added that police authorities are doing their best to control the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the area.

Today’s blast has too much resemblance with that of Maleagoan, Maharashtra. On both occasions crude bombs were used and same were used before Friday prayers outside the mosques.

The Union home minister, Shivraj Patil, has sought detailed report from the state and is in constant contact with state government. A forensic team has been sent to Hyderabad.

High alert has been issued in major Muslim towns in the state as well as in adjoining areas and security forces have been deployed.

Besides being a main centre for prayers especially Friday prayers, Mecca mosque is also a well know tourist place. It is presumed that mosque might have got badly damaged due to the blast.

Till now police is yet to confirm the motive behind the blast and no terrorist organization has taken the responsibility. After the incident, Police immediately swung into action in all parts of the city along with City Armed Reserve, State Special Police and elite Commandos. It was the immediate effort of the police that two unexploded bombs had successfully disposed otherwise the situation could have been worse.

Chief Minister of the state while addressing media person in New Delhi before leaving Andhra Pradesh also mentioned an important point that his government was alerted two months ago about such incidents, Reddy said all efforts were being taken in the wake of the blast to prevent such incidents elsewhere. Till now no terrorist organization has taken responsibility for this incident.