Hyderabad police is on high alert to foil any terror attack during the Ganesh immersion procession as authorities began a probe into an anonymous letter warning.
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad police is on high alert to foil any terror attack during the Ganesh immersion procession on Tuesday as authorities began a probe into an anonymous letter warning of possible strikes on that day.
More than 15,000 policemen and personnel of paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force will be deployed to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the massive procession, said home minister K. Jana Reddy.
The home minister Saturday said police were looking into the origin and authenticity of the anonymous letter addressed to Director General of Police M.A. Basith. The letter, written in English, warned that terrorists could strike during Ganesh procession.
The letter claimed that one Zakir, a resident of Hafiz Baba Nagar in the old city, received Rs.5 million from Harkat-Ul Jihad Islami (HUJI), to carry out blasts. It claimed that Zakir along with his son and 10 others were on the job. The letter named a few temples that could be the targets of terror strikes.
The home minister said there was no need for panic over the letter as police were already on alert to foil any terror attack or prevent any untoward incident. "I appeal to people to cooperate with the police in maintaining peace and not to believe in rumours," he said after a high-level meeting.
With the May 18 blast at the historic Mecca Masjid and August 25 twin blasts at a park and eatery still fresh in the minds of the people, the police are taking no chances.
The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad have already turned into a fortress with large-scale checking of vehicles and frisking of people at public places, places of worship and around vital installations.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Saturday held a meeting with home minister, director general of police, police commissioner and other top officials to review the security arrangements for 'Ganesh nimjanam'.
The meeting decided to further beef up security in sensitive areas and keep a tight vigil over the antisocial elements.
The annual Ganesh procession passes through the communally sensitive old city area and via Mecca Masjid and Charminar before reaching Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city. More than 20,000 big idols will be immersed in the lake, which divides the twin cities.
The police make elaborate security arrangements every year as the old city had witnessed communal riots during festivities in the past. Over the last decade, the processions passed off peacefully.
However, the May 18 blast during Friday prayers at the 17th century Mecca Masjid changed the security situation. Nine people were killed in the blast while five more died in the subsequent police firing on a violent mob near the mosque.
Even before police could achieve any breakthrough in investigations, the city was rocked by blasts at a park and a famous eatery on August 25. The worst-ever terror attacks in the state's history claimed 44 lives and injured 54.
Police believed that Bangladesh-based HUJI was behind the terror attacks. About 25 suspects have already been arrested in connection with the blasts but the police are yet to achieve any vital breakthrough with regard to the identity of the culprits.
This year extra security arrangements are being made as Ganesh festival and Muslim holy month of Ramadan are being celebrated together after a gap of 27 years. Metal detectors have been installed at all major places of worship and Ganesh pandals and bomb disposal squads are regularly checking the places.
As part of the massive security arrangements, police have erected dozens of watchtowers to keep an eye on the procession. More than a thousand video cameras have also been installed to record the festivities. The police have also appealed to people possessing cameras to record the procession and promise to pay for videocassettes and CDs in case of any significant recording.
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