NEWS

CBI to probe Hyderabad blast

By Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
May 25, 2007

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to entrust the probe into last Friday's bomb blast at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The government has also decided to order a judicial inquiry into the police firing in the vicinity of the mosque after the explosion took place.

In all, 14 people were killed and over 50 persons were injured in the bomb blast at the mosque and in the police firings on May 18.

A Commission of Inquiry will be appointed to go into the circumstances of the police firings near the Mecca Masjid soon after the blast when some people indulged in brickbatting at the police.

The terms of reference of the judicial probe will be finalised in a day or two. A retired judge is likely to head the inquiry commission.

The state government will write to the Union government seeking a CBI probe into the blast, which Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy termed as a 'terror attack.'

The government took the twin decisions at a high-level review meeting held at the chief minister's camp office on Thursday night.

The meeting reviewed the progress of the investigations so far and the measures to be taken for strengthening security at places of worship in the twin cities of Hyderabad-Secunderabad.

The meeting also looked into intelligence reports on the situation on the eve of Friday prayers.

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email