The Hindu : Front Page : Definitely an act of terrorism: YSR

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Sunday, Aug 26, 2007
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Definitely an act of terrorism: YSR

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister visits Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat

PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Grim scene: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Home Minister K. Jana Reddy at the Gokul Chat in Hyderabad on Saturday night.

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said the twin bomb blasts in the city on Saturday night were definitely an act of terrorism which the State was determined to deal with firmly.

Without going into the details, Dr. Reddy stated that the terrorists who had perpetrated the crime appeared to come from a distant place and claimed the lives of innocent people. The Chief Minister appealed to the citizens to maintain calm and not spread rumours or be carried away by them. “We must join hands to thwart the attempts of disruptive forces,” he said.

He spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on telephone and apprised them of the situation. Leader of the Opposition L. K. Advani is arriving here on Sunday morning.

The Chief Minister has convened an emergency meeting of his Cabinet at 10 a.m. on Sunday and all-party meeting at 11 a.m. to review the situation.He has cancelled all his engagements for Sunday, including the numerous marriages, he was scheduled to attend.

Ignores police warning

In less than an hour-and-a-half of the blasts, the Chief Minister visited Lumbini Park as well as Gokul Chat ignoring the advice of the police top brass to avoid going to the scene. The police officials said the two spots were not yet sanitised and there was danger of some more explosives being hidden in some places. He also went to the emergency ward of Osmania General Hospital where the injured were lying. A dazed Dr. Reddy was witness to the gory scenes, particularly at Gokul Chat, an eatery frequented by the young and old alike. He saw body parts blown to smithereens at the congested chat bhandar. The tables and food items were scattered all around.

At Lumbini Park, he walked up the flight of stairs and was moved by three bodies strewn around. He asked a policeman to close the outstretched hand of a victim. Describing the blasts as the “cruellest act against humanity”, he said its perpetrators could have no religion, ideology or national identity.

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