The quantum of sentence for the convicted Indian Mujahideen operatives will be announced next Monday.
A K Mohanty, former Director General of police, Andhra Pradesh discusses in this interview with rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa the role of OCTOPUS, and the challenge ahead for the police in Hyderabad in dealing with terrorism.
A local module could have orchestrated the twin blasts in Hyderabad with some external help, said sources in security agencies. The modus operandi is similar to the twin blasts that had struck popular spots like Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat centre in Hyderabad in 2007.
The quantum of sentence for the convicted Indian Mujahideen operatives, Aneeq Shafique Sayeed and Mohammed Akbar Ismail, will be announced next Monday.
Several theories but no evidence yet. This is the status of the investigations into the twin blasts at Hyderabad exactly a year back. When the twin blasts rocked Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat in Hyderabad, it was largely believed that the investigations would be taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigations, which was already looking into the Mecca Masjid blasts. However that did not happen.
The board had the names of all the 42 victims of the twin bomb blasts at the park and Gokul Chat.
Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks for the Governor's address in the state legislative assembly, Dr Reddy said, "The incidents of bomb blasts at Mecca Masjid, Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat Eatery in Hyderabad were related to cross-border terrorism. Many innocent lives were lost in these incidents." "Al Qaeda, by clubbing the United States, Israel and India together unnecessarily, is targeting our country without any rhyme or reason," he said.
33 people were killed in the crowded eatery in Kothi area of Hyderabad on the evening of August 25, 2007. This is the third charge sheet against seven accused in this case. The Octopus had earlier filed two separate charge sheets in another blast at Lumbini Park Laserium and an unexploded bomb recovered at a crowded place in Dilsukhnagar on the same day about two years ago.
The conspiracy was hatched by Shahid and his friend Khaja, both residents of Moosarambagh here, police sources said quoting a confessional statement.
Harkat-Ul-Jihadi Islami commander Shahid alias Bilal was the mastermind behind the August 25 twin blasts and May 15 Mecca Blasts in Hyderabad, which claimed over 50 lives, his brother Majid confessed to the police.
The SIT has secured important leads about the role of Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami's south India chief Mohammed Abdul Shahid alias Bilal.
Thirty persons were killed and nearly 60 injured in two powerful near-simultaneous blasts at a crowded park and a popular eating joint in Hyderabad on Saturday evening.
Just a day after the blasts, the police came to the conclusion that the blasts had been carried out by HuJI.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of them over different counts.
Rediff reader Suryakumari Upadhyayula, 48 from Boston, USA shares her experience.
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