Indian Authorities Step Up Security, Blame Islamic Militants for Saturday's Blasts | Voice of America - English
In India, authorities are pointing to the involvement of Islamic militant groups for deadly bombings that have killed at least 42 people and injured more than 60 in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad.
The federal government rushed paramilitary troops and bomb detection equipment to Hyderabad a day after the explosions ripped through a roadside stall and an amusement park. The extra troops deployed as police said they found 19 unexploded bombs in the city, which is capital of Andhra Pradesh state. Authorities say the unexploded devices, fitted with timers, were planted at public places such as cinema houses and bus stops. As police launched a search for those responsible for the attacks, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, pointed the finger at Islamic militant groups based in Pakistan and Bangladesh. He said information suggests that terrorist organizations based in those neighboring countries were not only responsible for Saturday's deadly bombings, but also for a previous bomb attack in a city mosque that killed 11 people. "As things stand today, available information with us points out to that not only this, the earlier Mecca Masjid bomb blast also, the available indications as of today point out to the organizations, to the terrorist organizations of Bangladesh and Pakistan," said Rajasekhara Reddy. The Chief Minister declined to give more detail. India has blamed Islamic militant groups based in Pakistan, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, for attacks in New Delhi and Mumbai in recent years. Security experts say these groups use local Muslims to carry out the attacks. Meanwhile, the city is trying to cope with the aftermath of the bombings. Friends and relatives have crowded hospitals where the injured are being treated and where efforts are being made to establish the identity of the victims. Police say several people have been detained for questioning in the city, where I.T. companies such as Microsoft have large research centers.