Hyderabad blasts reaction to Kasab, Afzal hanging: Shinde

Terming the Hyderabad twin blasts a reaction to executions of terror convicts Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde today stressed the need for the anti-terror hub and said he will talk to various chief ministers who were opposed to it.

Terming the Hyderabad twin blasts a reaction to executions of terror convicts Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Sunday stressed the need for the anti-terror hub and said he will talk to various chief ministers who were opposed to it.

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"We have been giving terror alerts throughout the country. We were expecting, when there have been two executions in the country, some reactions were bound to happen," Shinde told media persons in Kolkata.

He exuded confidence that the forensic tests done in the aftermath of the blasts will yield results and the culprits would be arrested soon.

The twin bomb blasts in crowded Dilsukhnagar area of the Andhra Pradesh capital on Thursday evening claimed 16 lives and left 117 wounded.

Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor of the ten Pakistani terrorists who attacked Mumbai 26/11, was hanged on November 21 last year. Afzal Guru was executed February 9 for his role in the attack on Parliament House December 13, 2001.

Stressing the need for the formation of the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Shinde said he was hopeful of getting the cooperation of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is among several chief ministers to oppose the move.

"We will pursue NCTC and I will talk to those who have expressed reservation over it. I have already taken up the matter with Mamataji. She is very cooperative on this issue," said Shinde.

The proposal to set up NCTC was put on hold after some states protested against its implementation, saying it would encroach on their rights.

Shinde, on a two-day visit to the state, said he will discuss Bengal’s law and order situation with Banerjee.

“I have been apprised about the law and order situation of the state and will discuss the matter with her during our meeting," he said.

The state Congress Sunday gave Shinde a memorandum on the “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state.