Another Black Friday: A Post Mortem of the Mecca Mosque Blast in Hyderabad, India

By Animesh Roul

Eleven people have been killed and more than 50 others injured in a bomb explosion inside Mecca Mosque located near the historic Charminar in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh, INDIA) on May 18 (Friday) 2007. Subsequent to the blast, a mob fury erupted at Shah-Ali-Banda and other places close to the blast site, where five people have reportedly died in police firing, taking the total toll to 16 (updated). The blast took place when the place was thronged by thousands of people who came from different places to offer prayers at this 17th century mosque. Security forces recovered three unexploded devices placed at strategic places to maximize casualty within the Mosque compound. Speculations about the involvement of Hindu militant outfits and Left wing extremist or Maoists (active in the state) gained momentum, but for a short period. It is in fact highly unlikely when one looks at the unexploded devices and SIM card found from the blast spot.

This is third time where a Mosque and worshippers have been targetted in India on Friday when large number of worshippers are expected to throng the place for prayers.

April 14 (Friday) 2006: Fourteen persons including two women were injured in two explosions inside the Jama Masjid located in teh Old city of Delhi soon after evening prayers.

September 08 (Friday) 2006: Over 30 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in two bomb blasts in Malegaon( Nashik, Maharashtra) when people had gathered for Friday prayers at Noorani Mousque and at the Bada Kabristan to offer special prayers on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat.

Crude Technology with Sophistication

Sources in Hyderabad while giving details indicated that the bomb used in the blasts and (those unexploded) comprised of explosive substance (a mixture of RDX and other substance, possibly TNT- Trinitrotoluene) filled in iron pipes. Initial investigations by police revealed that improvised explosive device triggered with a mobile (cellular) phone and was hidden underneath a century old marble platform, close to the Wuzukhana or a place for ablution. Police also found a Nokia mobile phone and a Hutch SIM card attached to an unexploded IED. The other devices did not explode, fortunately, may be due to the indecisiveness of the perpetrator/planter of the bombs present there inside the mosque or a communication failure. It is now under probe if the explosions were triggered from Bangladesh through mobile phones with three local youth acting only as planters of the explosives inside the mosque.

Signatures of Islamists & ISI

The motive was to trigger communal conflagration and to instigate Muslim youths against the State and majority Hindus by making them more insecure and vulnerable to their larger design.

Agencies investigating the blast, suspect the hands of Islamic terror outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Bangladesh based Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami-Bangladesh (HuJI-B) which is known for using mobile phone technology for triggering IEDs, and the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). But surprisingly the oft-suspected mother of all militancy in India, Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence (ISI)’s name was missing this time. The agencies are cautious this time, unlike earlier occasions during Mumbai train blasts, Malegaon mosque blasts and Samjhauta train blasts. For a while it seemed they vowed not to take Pakistan’s name or its spy agency directly.

However, ISI’s hand colluding with HuJI or JeM/LeT can not be ruled out as there were early indications in recent months about increased Islamist activities in southern States of India. Density of Muslim populations are high with own demarcated Bustis (Ghettos) far from planned urban housing centers primarily in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka and even Orissa. The capitals and major centers of these states have been centers of activities for Islamic militants funded and backed by external agencies. They live in the crammed ghettos but only interact with outside world and other community only for trading and commercial activities. These places are highly prone for becoming a safe hideout for any terrorist or their sympathizers and primarily harnessed by ISI and other terror groups. [However, this Ghettoisation is not enforced ( as believed by some observers, but yes may be out of insecurities within the community itself or stringent religious practices)

I found an apt description of the demography vis-a vis density of Old City of Hyderabad while searching to substantiate my claim of Ghettoisation. This is by and large depicts a picture unique to most of the States where Muslims are minority:

“About 50 percent of the city's four million population live in the old city, founded four centuries ago. Muslims, who constitute 40 percent of the city's total population, are an overwhelming majority in the old city.” (IANS)

Suspects at Large

There are many evidences which could reinforce the suspicion/allegations that the ISI is supplying Islamists with all types of support and provisions. In early December last year the State police nabbed four suspected ISI agents near L.R. Pally village of Nellore district with precursor materials for explosives. Again in the first week of April 2007, Andhra police arrested one Maqsood Ahmed, suspected ISI agent, a resident of Malakpet area of Hyderabad, with CDs and floppy diskettes containing provocative Jehadi speeches. Maqsood reportedly revealed during investigations that he along with two of his accomplices has been recruiting youths for Jehadi activities in Hyderabad, Gujarat and as far as in Somalia (Africa). Maqsood’s link with other two terror suspects Mohammed Abdul Shahed (also known as Bilal and Mohammed Ibrahim are well established. Presently role of Bilal a known offender wanted in many cases in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat and who has links with HuJi-Bangladesh and other terror outfits in Pakistan is under investigation. The Hutch SIM card found from the spot, was allegedly been purchased from West Bengal in Bilal's name.

In the past, though the Andhra Pradesh police tried to link up with the Interpol in April this year to issue a red corner notice against Bilal, the case has not been pursued vigoursly further. Indian agencies suspect Blial is now in Pakistan, after evading arrests in India, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arab. India reportedly had passed on Bilal’s name to Pakistan at the first meeting of the joint anti-terror mechanism held on March 6, 2007. Like Bilal, Zahibuddin Ansari and Fayaz Kagzi, two other masterminds (of Mumbai train blasts) are still at large and Indian security and intel agencies are groping in the dark even after a year or so.

May 18 blast posed many serious questions as far as Indian security and intelligence agencies’ effectiveness are concerned. Even after two days have been passed, the investigating agencies are groping in the dark and yet to establish anything. Much to their chagrin, no terror organizations have so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

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