A local module could have orchestrated the twin blasts in Hyderabad with some external help, said sources in security agencies.
The modus operandi is similar to the twin blasts that had struck popular spots like Lumbini Park and Gokul chat centre in Hyderabad in 2007.
Intelligence agencies have maintained intense surveillance in the volatile Old City area of Hyderabad. According to agency officials, there was a lot of anger and resentment among the locals after the persecution of innocent young men over the Mecca Masjid blasts.
At the moment, both the police and the IB believe that the attack could have been carried out by a local module attached to the terror outfit Harkat-ul-Juhadi Islami. HuJI was responsible for carrying the twin blasts that rocked the city five years back.
The HuJI has always had a stronger network in Hyderabad compared to the Indian Mujahideen. The police will now revisit the suspected modules of HuJi modules to try and join the dots in this case.
The Intelligence Bureau had warned of such attacks in the country in the aftermath of the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Hyderabad was one of the cities specifically mentioned by the IB and put on high alert.
Guru’s hanging had angered various extremist groups, which had threatened to carry out retaliatory strikes.
These local groups have been in touch with ultras from other parts of the country. Rumblings of discontent and hatching of terror plans were reported even after the hanging of Mumbai terror attack convict Ajmal Kasab.
These blasts were carried out to avenge Guru’s hanging, fear officials.
The terrorists chose the crowded bus stop as they were aware that security arrangements in place there were inadequate to control huge crowds.