Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi, a London-trained lawyer who is the head of the Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen, wants a quick and fair probe into Thursday’s twin blasts.
Why do you think the perpetrators targetted Hyderabad?
I do not know who conducted the blasts and why. Perhaps the terrorists perceive Hyderabad as a soft target.
There are allegations that the blasts could have been foiled considering there were specific inputs about the city being an Indian Mujahideen target. Two of its alleged operatives had surveyed targets including Dilsukhnagar last year.
Yes, the police and other security agencies could have undertaken more effective counter-measures.
The police focus over the past few years has not been on countering terror due to factors including their preoccupation with the Telangana agitation. The Special Branch seems to focus more on monitoring politicians and political parties.
How soon do you think the investigators may crack the case?
I hope they can catch the culprits and prosecute them. The probe should be objective and based on evidence.
Terror has no religion, it targets the innocent. Muslims died in Thursday’s blasts too.
How is the city coping with the trauma?
I am getting so many calls from a group of local Muslim youths, who had been falsely implicated in the May 2007 Mecca mosque blast case.
How is the city coping with the trauma?
I am getting so many calls from a group of local Muslim youths, who had been falsely implicated in the May 2007 Mecca mosque blast case.
They ask if they should flee. This despite the fact that the state government regretted its mistake and had give them compensation and certificates of good conduct.
These youths, who are law-abiding people, are called for questioning every time something happens in the city.