The blast in Hyderabad’s Mecca Masjid is the most recent in a series of terrorist attacks specifically targeting Muslims. The explosions were timed to cause maximum damage; when hundreds of worshippers had congregated at the mosque for Friday prayers. Twelve people were killed and dozens injured in the blasts. Subsequent firing on protesting mobs has resulted in the death of at least five people. The blasts at Mecca Masjid, like several others in recent years, were aimed at triggering communal riots. Hyderabad is a communally sensitive city and an attack on a place of worship was obviously meant to hurt religious sentiments and stir communal passions. There are several extremist outfits in this country that have a communal agenda and are keen to tear apart this country’s secular fabric. The police and intelligence agencies should widen the scope of their investigations to bring all these groups under the scanner.
Preliminary investigations point to the possible hand of the Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI). Support from local activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has not been ruled out. If it was Bangladesh or Pakistan-based jihadi groups that indeed masterminded the attacks on Mecca Masjid, this is a matter of serious concern. Delhi must continue to keep up the pressure on governments of these countries to dismantle the terror network on their soil. However, India cannot afford to neglect extremism, whether Hindu, Muslim or Sikh that flourishes within its own borders. Blaming external enemies alone will not help India fight terrorism. The government needs to fight the enemy within and this should involve not only cracking down on extremist organisations but also strengthening civil society to fight communalism and extremism.
It is heartening that in recent years the Indian people have stood together following terrorist attacks and not allowed these outfits to disrupt communal harmony. But we cannot take chances as the cost of communal violence is enormous. It is essential therefore that the government puts in place cross-community organisations, especially in sensitive areas, so that these can build bridges. Strengthening India’s secularism and building bridges across communal and sectarian divides are a vital part of India’s fight against terrorism.