Terror, yet again - a report on Hyderabad Blasts.

“Terrorism is the tactic of demanding the impossible, and demanding it at gunpoint.”

On Thursday, 21^st of February, 2013, terror in one of its many forms struck in Dilsukh Nagar, south east region of Hyderabad. The twin bomb blasts, which have left everyone in great shock claimed 13 lives and injured another 80. The two blasts occurred barely 100 meters apart and near a cluster of bus stand which frequent on the Hyderabad-Vijaywada highway. CCTV footage reveals the movement of five men planting the bombs at both the locations.  A two day high alert was announced post the 19^th of February by the government agencies as a precaution on an attack by Pakistani-based groups to exact revenge on the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and Mumbai attack convict Ajmal Kasab. As per forensic sources, the blasts have traces of ammonium nitrate and tri-nitro toluene; indicating a hand of the Indian Mujahideen. The bombs also contained huge amounts of iron nails and bolts, joint together with the ammonium nitride with copper wire, making the explosions very powerful. Besides the usual comments and grievances by government agencies and political figures, certain measures have been taken to get to the root and find the accused. As of 23^rd February, 6 individuals have been detained in connection to the blasts; however, none have been arrested or charged. National Investigation Agency (NIA), has been raiding places in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. Various jails where Indian Mujahideen operatives have been lodged have also been enquired to. Mr. Abdul Wasey Mirza, a survivor of the Dilsuck Nagar blast and the Mecca Masjid Blast in 2007 had initially been suspected in having a hand in the same but has been cleared of all suspicion. A team of National Security Guards (NSG) arrived in Hyderabad with a plane provided by the Border Security Force (BSF) for further investigation of the blasts. In Parliament, the union government has faced scathing attacks from the BJP-led Opposition, which says intelligence warnings issed before the blasts were mishandled and ignored. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde refuted the Opposition’s accusations and said that the government took “necessary steps” but these could not be elaborated for security reasons.