Andhra Pradesh   

Centre had alerted A.P. police about attack

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: Intelligence agencies had alerted the Andhra Pradesh police about an impending attack being planned by pan-Islamic terrorist organisations, weeks ahead of the Friday bomb blast in Mecca Masjid here.

Following the input, the police stepped up security cover for important religious places and protection to possible targets such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders and police officers. However, the Intelligence wing here did not expect a serious attack like the one inside the most revered Mecca Masjid. The Intelligence input was also somewhat vague about possible targets.

Needle of suspicion

However, the police kept a tab on the movements of persons and organisations which had come under suspicion and those charged with planning terrorist activities with support from across the border. The needle of suspicion, naturally, pointed to Shaheed alias Bilal, a Hyderabadi accused of masterminding the suicide bomber attack in Police Commissioner's Task Force office in Hyderabad three years ago.

Believed to be operating from Bangladesh and recently sighted in Karachi, Bilal was believed to be the kingpin of a racket which pumped RDX and other explosives into the twin cities. The police had seized the explosives after they arrested two alleged ISI agents a year ago. These arrests took place hours before the visit of the Prime Minister to Hyderabad.

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