Hyderabad limping back to normalcy

Hyderabad, May 20 (UNI) Normalcy returned to the city, dispelling fears of political leaders that Friday's bomb blast in the Mecca masjid, leaving 14 dead and over 50 injured, might take a communal turn.

All communities expressed solidarity with the Muslims and a bandh was observed voluntarily all over the state yesterday. Even Hindus and Muslims jointly conducted ''Shanti Yatras.'' Meanwhile, an eight-member National Security Guard (NSG) team arrived from New Delhi and a forensic experts team came from Mumbai for the investigation.

The NSG team got the water in a pond inside the masjid pumped out and searched it thoroughly. They found a mobile phone similar to the one, found by the state police yesterday, attached to an unexploded bomb. A remote control was also found by them.

Police initially did not want to allow prayers in the Mosque today. But as hundreds gathered unfazed by Friday's blast, the Security Personnel erected metal detectors and frisked every one before allowing the devotees inside. The afternoon prayers passed off without any incident.

Fifty special police teams were deployed in the old city to maintain vigil round the clock and monitor the law and order situation.

Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said police had some vital clues but the revelation of this information now would put the investigation in jeopardy.

However, AIMIM criticised police firing on the mob, which led to the death of five persons.

Under the leadership of MP Asaduddin Owaisi, the AIMIM activists laid a seige to the office of Director General of Police M A Basith and raised slogans, demanding suspension of the officers who had ordered the firing and also a CBI inquiry into the firing. They also burnt the effigy of the DGP in front of his office.

UNI