The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : High alert sounded in Hyderabad

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Saturday, Oct 06, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

High alert sounded in Hyderabad

Staff Reporter

Police expect possible terror strikes by four Bangladeshis

HYDERABAD: A high alert was sounded in the State capital on Thursday following intelligence inputs about possible terror strikes similar to the recent twin blasts.

Police sources said four terrorists from Bangladesh had sneaked into the State and were hiding in the Telangana districts to carry out attacks in Hyderabad. Special teams were sent to Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts to track them down.

While the tip-off indicated about terror strikes, the police were not sure if the suspected Bangladeshis believed to be moving in city are planning suicide attack as was done on the night of Dasera two years ago on Commissioner’s Task Force office. “There is also the likelihood of people at crowded public places being targeted akin to the twin blasts. Hence, all security precautions are being initiated,” a police officer said.

The alerts were substantiated by the reported revelation made by the twin blasts suspect Shahed’s brother Mazid, who was recently arrested by the city police. Mazid, it is learnt, told the police that activists of some terrorist outfits were moving about in the city.

Security was stepped up at all religious places and prayer halls in old city. Surveillance cameras capable of capturing images during the nights had been installed at strategic places. Intensive checking of vehicles and frisking of individuals were undertaken at several places in the city.

Deviating from the usual surprise checks by the men in uniform, policemen frisked people in plainclothes at select junctions this time.

“The massive checking before Ganesh festival probably made them hide in localities of the districts. We have information that they are doing recce of the targeted places in city and going back to their hideouts,” a police officer explained.

15 picked up

Meanwhile, the South Zone police picked up 15 members hailing from Gujarat and West Bengal while they were moving under suspicious circumstances near Charminar. Nine of them were caught near Bhagya Laxmi temple at Charminar but were let off after confirming their credentials.

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