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Rs 2.5 million reward for clues on AP blasts

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced a reward of Rs 2.5 million for clues on the identity of the culprits behind the series of bomb blasts at places of worship in the state.

Curfew has been clamped in three police station limits of the coastal city of Guntur and two companies of the Rapid Action Force were deployed following violence after a bomb exploded at a mosque on Sunday night. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in other parts of Guntur.

On Monday, Naidu visited Guntur and inspected the site of the blast. He also went round the APSRTC bus station complex where enraged youth torched 12 buses and ransacked and set fire to stalls. The losses were estimated be around Rs 20 million.

Naidu also spoke to local Muslim leaders and sought their cooperation in maintenance of peace and communal harmony. He suggested the formation of citizens' committees to keep regular vigil on all places of worship - including churches, mosques and temples. He asked the community elders to inform the police immediately on the movement of suspicious elements in the area. He said police protection would be provided at all important places of worship.

Naidu said the improvised explosive device and materials used in the blast at the mosque were similar to the devices planted at five churches in the state in the last one month. He said that the culprits involved in all the six incidents appeared to belong to the same organised gang.

Asked whether he suspected the involvement of the Sangh Parivar, Naidu quipped, "Without any conclusive evidence, how can I say that?"

He was accompanied by Home Minister T Devender Goud and Director General of Police H J Dora.

Meanwhile in Hyderabad, Majlis-e-Ittehaadul Muslimeen MP Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government at the Centre for the attacks.

Owaisi told the rediff.com that "the shocking incident has, however, caused no surprise since it seems to be part of the series of attacks on the Christian and Muslim minorities and their places of worship."

The MIM chief said "the attacks were carried out by vested interests to terrorise the minorities."

Asked who these vested interests are, he quipped "everybody knows them."

EARLIER REPORT
Curfew in Guntur

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