City police to join H'bad blast investigation team

Top cops discuss security measures; Blore on high alert

Two teams of the City police will leave for Hyderabad to assist the investigations into the twin blasts that ripped through the Andhra Pradesh capital on Thursday.

The City police suspect a possible link between those involved in the twin blasts in Hyderabad and those arrested in connection with serial bomb blasts that rocked Bangalore in 2008.

The Hyderabad blasts are suspected to be the handiwork of Indian Mujahiddeen (IM). Incidentally, Abu Ustad, an aide of Abdul Nasser Maudany and a close kin of the other two accused in the Bangalore case, is said to be an active member of IM.

Safruddin and his son Sainuddin, arrested in connection with the Bangalore blast case are now lodged in Central Prisons at Parappana Agrahara. Safruddin's second son Nijamuddin is married to Abu Ustad's daughter Safiya. Intelligence sources told Deccan Herald that Abu Ustad is the chief patron of a madarasa in Hyderabad where he is holding fort for IM and recruiting young men for its activities.

High alert

The City police have been put on a high alert in the wake of the blasts in Hyderabad. City Police Commissioner B G Jyothiprakash Mirji said security has been beefed up across the City. Additional police forces were pressed into service while searches were conducted at public places in the City on Friday.

The personnel of City Armed Reserve and dog squads have been deployed at crucial and sensitive locations. Mirji said the police were searching hotels for people staying without proper documents. Patrolling has been increased on Bellary Road leading to Bengaluru International Airport and a heightened vigil is being maintained on the vehicles plying between Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Director General and Inspector General of Police L R Pachau held a meeting with senior officials to review the security measures in the State.

Tight vigil

Bipin Gopalakrishna, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) told Deccan Herald that the meeting discussed intelligence inputs on terror activities in Karnataka, and reviewed the security measures. He said tight vigil was being maintained at all important installations in the City and dams across the State. All major bus stands, railway stations and airports have been provided with additional security, he added.
Bipin also holds the additional charge of Internal Security.

Mirji, Additional Commissioner (Law and Order) T Suneel Kumar, Inspector General of Police (State Intelligence) Gopal B Hosur and other senior officials attended the meeting.