Cycle Of Terror Returns, This Time To Hyderabad

Days After Jihadis Vow Revenge For Afzal's Hanging 13 Killed In Twin Blasts In Crowded Middle-Class Locality

Hyderabad: It proved to be a lull before a terrifying storm. Seventeen months after the last deadly blast at the Delhi high court, two powerful bombs fastened to parked bicycles ripped through Hyderabad's bustling Dilsukhnagar area on Thursday, killing at least 13 persons and injuring 70 others. While no individual or group has claimed responsibility so far, intelligence officers insist that the deadly operation bears the stamp of Lashkar proxy, Indian Mujahideen. 
    Thursday's bombs triggered back-to-back explosions near popular movie theatres, blowing bodies into the air, flattening shops and houses and triggering panic among scores of injured people who were seen scurrying for cover in all directions with blood oozing out of their heads and legs. 
    The first bomb went off with a deafening blast near the Dilsukhnagar bus stop at 7.05pm, close to Venkatadri theatre and a minute later, another high intensity blast, near a snack shop close by, flung bodies into the air and left a crater on the tarmac, police and witnesses said. TV channels reported that an unexploded bomb was recovered from the area but there was no confirmation from the cops. 
    Six months ago, there were low-intensity blasts in Pune which fortunately claimed no casualty. Since the last blast in which people died was in September 2011 in Delhi, a perception of the terror threat ebbing had grown which Thursday's Hyderabad attacks have blown to smithereens. 
With fingers being pointed at the IM, it seems the terror operatives have regrouped, 
with deadly intent. 
7.05pm | First blast 
behind bus stop near Venkatadri theatre in middleclass locality of Dilsukhnagar (east Hyd), about 16km from city centre. Bomb kept in rexine bag on a cycle parked in the main road which is the area's commercial hub 
7.06pm | Second blast 
near eatery in Konark theatre lane (pic), about 100m from Venkatadri theatre. Again, bomb in rexine bag on a cycle 
    Initial reports say both bombs were improvised explosive devices (IEDs) 
    Indian Mujahideen suspected to be behind blast 
    Last terrorist strike in Hyderabad were twin blasts on August 25, 2007. Explosions at Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat in Koti, about 5km fromLumbini, killed 42. Three Indian Mujahideen members arrested, investigations still on 
Last Terror Strikes In India 
Aug 1, 2012: One wounded in 4 low-intensity blasts in Pune 
Sep 7, 2011: 12 killed, 76 injured as a briefcase bomb went off outside Delhi HC

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister (Kiran Kumar Reddy) told me that there was a similar blast at nearby Gokul Chat five years ago - Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde