A “crude” bomb exploded at the 17th century-era Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad during Friday prayers, killing five and seriously injuring at least 25 others (Thanks, Red Snapper and Tamasha):
Minutes after the blast, Muslims angered by what they said was a lack of police protection began chanting slogans — a situation that quickly devolved into mobs throwing stones at police, who responded with baton charges and tear gas.
Some reports I’ve read state that the tear gas was used to clear the area, to help ambulances rush to and from the scene.
The bombing and ensuing clash between worshippers and police raised fears of wider Hindu-Muslim violence in the city, which has long been plagued by communal tensions and occasional spasms of religious bloodletting.
Many of those injured in the explosion at the 17th-century Mecca Masjid were severely wounded, and the city’s police chief, Balwinder Singh, warned the death toll could rise.
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh state, where Hyderabad is located, appealed for calm between Hindus and Muslims.
Reddy called the bombing, which killed at least five people and wounded 25, an act of ”intentional sabotage on the peace and tranquility in the country.” [NYT]
Mecca Masjid, so named because some of its bricks were brought from that holy city, took 8000 masons almost eight decades to complete; it is the largest mosque in Hyderabad.
Developing…
This is pissing off…
Really pissing off. All Hyderabadi readers, keep safe. Please share any eye-witness.
This really sucks.
This is terrible. Even with its demographic breakdown and pretty stark cultural differences, Hyderabad has remained relatively free of serious communal clashes. Hope this does not blow up.
nothing will happen
My Dad says 19 have died and many more injured. My Dad and sister had trouble getting home. (Mobs stopping vehicles on the road, etc.)
I pray for all who have lost their lives. Everyone with family in Hyd please call and make sure they are safe.
B.Raman’s analysis on Rediff – probably the most accurate one…
M. Nam
I have always been proud of my city’s multi-cultural history. From being Bhagyanagar to being called Hyderabad, Birla Mandir and Mecca masjid, Bonala pandaga and Eid. I hope we don’t give up the exact thing (the communal harmony) that makes us Hyderabadis. It hurts me to think there could be a possiblity of more bloodshed.
MoorNam (#5), Thanks for the link. It was quite informative.
Hyderabad had its share of communal violence, but not in the scale of Delhi, Bombay or Gujarat. Its been largely peaceful for the last decade or so, I hope its not going to get worse.
To quote Chief Minister Reddy:
“Some inputs were coming in the last two or two-and- half months that some elements were trying to disturb peace. All steps were taken. But still such things do happen.”
It baffles me how incompetent our government is. sigh
Wow. This is terrible. I hope any Hyderabadi SM’ers are ok.
It baffles me how incompetent our government is. sigh
That may generally be true, but IMO, it’s not really fair in this case. Such things do still happen, even when the government takes all the necessary precautions.
Don’t jump to conclusions so soon. They’ve done their part.
B.Raman’s analysis on Rediff – probably the most accurate one…
Preposterous nonsense. Also blaming everything on Pakistan is getting lame. I am sure the damn Pakis have also been complicit in committing periodic massacres in Delhi 84, Bombay 93 and Gujarat 02.
I think the ISI was behind my rotten NFL Fantasy Football season last year.
“I hope any Hyderabadi SM’ers are ok”. Second that.
I pray for the souls that are lost, family and countless number of people effected.
Chutiya #12 Not sure why you call the Rediff analysis “preposterous nonsense”
Do you have any knowledge that lead you to that insightful conclusion (other than your “belief” that ISI are not involved, the same way a few others want to believe that ISI are)?
🙁
Heartfelt sympathy for Hyderabadis, and a wish that this does not rip folks further apart.
B. Raman is often pretty good, his article was quite insightful and didn’t blame any individual or party…
My salaams to all in Hyderabad, I can only imagine the anguish and the anxiety…
I cant believe this. I just got back from Hyderabad last weekend, it was so nice when I was there, there were absolutely no religious tensions whatsover. Incidents like this are deliberate attempts by some sick political elements with some ulterior motives such as either toppling the current ruling goverment or gaining some political ground using religion as pretext. I was able to freely go to just any part of the city while I was there, but incidents like this would take away that freedom, makes you want to be aware of where you are going and watch out for your safety. I remember not being able to go out in my own neighbourhood during the 93 riots which is otherwise very peaceful.
if theres anything preposterous, its you so easily dismissing what a highly respected journalist/former Indian intelligence officer has to say
It’s too early for any of this analysis. Whomever is to blame, the government must not allow any repeat of a Gujurat type situation. For those who are beyond appeals to compassion/basic human decency I hope they realize that any resulting communal conflict is very, very bad for business
Condolences to Hydrabadis…
Rediff has an article linking this attack with others attacks on muslims in the last two years in India.
Anyone know if any of them been solved?
What is the % of muslim and Hindu’s in Hyderbad, and is there any chance that this will turn into what want on in Gujarat in 2002.
As for, Al Chutyia I don’t think you can blame the ISI for you rotten fantasy football season last year. Maybe you need to draft better. If you need any advice don’t be afraid to ask.
This is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with anyone who has family near by and for everyone who lives or is visiting there at this time.
I would not know about the % of Muslims in Hyderabad but this in no way will end up like Gujarat. Gujarat was 100% state sponspored terrorism. I am from coastal Andhra and have lived in Hyderabad. My guess for the city’s Hindu:Muslim ratio is 60:40. The majority of Muslims live in the old city. Hyderabad is a rather laidback city. Even though the once in a decade riot is pretty much the norm, I havent seen people from either side harbor illwill. The south generally had better relations with the muslims. I guess that is because we didnt have to face the initial brunt of the muslim invasion. the muslim dynasties in the south already had lived among Hindus for centuries before moving soutn.
Even though i hate to subscribe to the foreign hand ISI bogeyman, it could be the case. Hell they did it to their own countreymen in the Samjhauta train attack. Actually interesting question is if extreme right winger Hindu groups have ever been arrested for such attacks on Masjids?(not talking about 1992 Babri Massjid here)
As for, Al Chutyia I don’t think you can blame the ISI for you rotten fantasy football season last year. Maybe you need to draft better. If you need any advice don’t be afraid to ask.
I do need to draft better!
“B.Raman’s analysis on Rediff – probably the most accurate one…”
Wow!!!
I see some cannot wait one second to blaime the Muslims for it.
Sheesh…
ACD,
in committing periodic massacres in Delhi 84, Bombay 93 and Gujarat 02. Re: Periodic
The definition of periodic is “appearing or occurring at intervals“
Is Delhi, Bombay, Gujarat periodic in religious violence? – the answer is No
Is India as a whole? – the answer is roughly Yes. Re: ISI
It is quite ironic that you bring a passioned plea for presumed innocence for ISI in the same comment with Bombay 93 riots mentioned. It has been clearly established that ISI through Bombay Mafia played active role in the riots. Some of the Bombay Mafia live in Pakistan after the riots to avoid jail time.
One of them (I think Dawood Ibrahim’s) daughter married Javed Miandad (leading cricketer of Pakistan) with much fan fare. These Bombay mafia are royalty in Pakistan elite.
I see your reason for protesting in regards making a bogey man but you are going other extreme in giving ISI clean ticket where they have been proved guilty openly.
Can you please tell me what is the mission (or reason for existence) of ISI? We can go from there.
Yes, I wouldn’t rule it out either. There has been some tension between Hindus and Muslims in Hyderabad over a long period, but this appears to be a qualitatively new development. The Hindu is now reporting 12 killed and 50 injured, so this is getting quite serious.
And, while the initial bomb injured lots of people, a riot started immediately afterward, even before the injured had been evacuated, and that injured more people. And then, to disperse that riot, the police opened fire, which resulted in even more injured. All this is playing out exactly as if it was an exercise in an anarchist textbook.
That the bomb itself seems to have been triggered by a cellphone further tends to point toward ISI. The main reason they have been targeting Bangalore and Hyderabad is, of course, because of the many ICT companies in both cities – hoping for a spiralling effect on employee safety and investor climate, and eventually on the larger Indian economy.
I hope it all calms down quickly, though with the loss of life and limb that we’ve had already, that may be a lot to expect. Still, one can hope and pray.
Correction: married Javed Miandad’s (leading cricketer of Pakistan) son
Thats sad, now they are trying to create rift among muslims in India. And its just so stupid that government doesn’t understand what is at stake and stays lax in security even after all the warnings. “These things do happen” is no excuse when you have prior warnings and also the experience in how incidences like these can quickly escalate. Hopefully things will be quickly controlled.
Actually they have been! There is no excuse for what happened afterwards and is a matter of shame, but all those incidences DID have a pakistani hand.We did burn overselves, but it was pakistan in all those occasion which doused us with gasoline and gladly provided the matches.If you refuse to belive that, then that’t preposterous! Of course if you get most of your news from western media, then its not your fault.
Flame away!
The 1993 attack and its aftermath was captured on this hindi movie, Black Friday. Its a must watch for anyone interested in subcontinent political affairs.
I was struck by how close the movie seemed to Munich . But Black Friday is a 2004 movie based on actual events, its not a usual hollywood ripoff.
ACD,
in committing periodic massacres in Delhi 84, Bombay 93 and Gujarat 02.
Re: Periodic
The definition of periodic is “appearing or occurring at intervals”
Is Delhi, Bombay, Gujarat periodic in religious violence? – the answer is No
Is India as a whole? – the answer is roughly Yes.
I did not suggest that Delhi, Bombay, Gujarat are engaging in periodic religious violence. India as a whole has been engaging in periodic violence. Its just not Delhi, Bombay and Gujarat. Its also Bhagalpur in Bihar, Meerut/Maliana in UP and Surat in Gujarat and there are others as well. I think having 6 major secretarian riots in 30 years in which state governments were complicit at varying degrees is very troubling.
It is quite ironic that you bring a passioned plea for presumed innocence for ISI in the same comment with Bombay 93 riots mentioned. It has been clearly established that ISI through Bombay Mafia played active role in the riots. Some of the Bombay Mafia live in Pakistan after the riots to avoid jail time.
One of them (I think Dawood Ibrahim’s) daughter married Javed Miandad (leading cricketer of Pakistan) with much fan fare. These Bombay mafia are royalty in Pakistan elite.
I see your reason for protesting in regards making a bogey man but you are going other extreme in giving ISI clean ticket where they have been proved guilty openly.
Can you please tell me what is the mission (or reason for existence) of ISI? We can go from there.
I am neither making a passioned plea nor giving ISI a clean ticket. However, blaming all the shit that happens in India on Pakistan without waiting for evidence has become standard operating procedure in some circles and I find that troubling.
It has been clearly established that ISI through Bombay Mafia played active role in the riots.
I did not know that. I know they were implicated in the blasts. Where can I look up about their role in the riot itself?
One thing I got out of “Black Friday” is that terrorism is not done by people who are looking for money. Those who are struggling to provide food and decent living for their families DO NOT, or I should say ARE NOT thinking about this bigger political goals.
Ok, I messed up the italics!
I did not suggest that Delhi, Bombay, Gujarat are engaging in periodic religious violence. India as a whole has been engaging in periodic violence. Its just not Delhi, Bombay and Gujarat. Its also Bhagalpur in Bihar, Meerut/Maliana in UP and Surat in Gujarat and there are others as well. I think having 6 major secretarian riots in 30 years in which state governments were complicit at varying degrees is very troubling.
I am neither making a passioned plea nor giving ISI a clean ticket. However, blaming all the shit that happens in India on Pakistan without waiting for evidence has become standard operating procedure in some circles and I find that troubling.
It has been clearly established that ISI through Bombay Mafia played active role in the riots.
I did not know that. I know they were implicated in the blasts. Where can I look up about their role in the riot itself?
ACD, Suketu Mehta’s book, “Maximum City” has an entire chapter regarding the bomb blasts and the subsequent riots. It’s pretty detailed and very well written.
As I understand the mission has evolved. It started as CIA then included Frontier Province as its operating area and has now become all encompassing playing the roles of NSA, CIA, and local intelligence gathering part of FBI.
I did not know that. I know they were implicated in the blasts. Where can I look up about their role in the riot itself?
Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon. As Comment #.30 said, what happened in riots, the blame rests on the people of Bombay. However, ISI was all too happy to provide kerosene and matches (Comment #.30).
Why do they (DI and TM) live in Pakistan? What has Pakistan to gain from having them there?
Sure, as I said earlier that making ISI as bogey man for everyhting serves no purpose either, it is shoving India’s own problems under the rug. But ISI isn’t imaginary either?
ACD, Suketu Mehta’s book, “Maximum City” has an entire chapter regarding the bomb blasts and the subsequent riots. It’s pretty detailed and very well written.
The bomb blasts took place after and not before the riots. I will check out the book. Thanks!
Somebody made the comment that these acts are normally the product of dirty and corrupt local politicians. This was exactly the case in the Gujrat riots. The main item when the BJP coalition was that Vajpayee would never rule on Ayodhya. By stoking the riots, some dirty pols were trying to force him to make a ruling on Ayodhya and therefore destroy the coalition govt that was in place at the time.
ACD,
ISI has a very complicated history.
India lies on at its core. It origins lies with Indo-Pak 1965 war.
There is a belief that any police presence is unwelcome in most Muslim areas by the Muslims themselves. From personal and second hand experience, I found this to be largely true in Maharashtra, TN, Gujarat, and Bengal. Would anyone who is personally from Hyderabad confirm whether this was/or was not the case in Hyderabad as well?
Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon. As Comment #.30 said, what happened in riots, the blame rests on the people of Bombay. However, ISI was all too happy to provide kerosene and matches (Comment #.30). Why do they (DI and TM) live in Pakistan? What has Pakistan to gain from having them there? Sure, as I said earlier that making ISI as bogey man for everyhting serves no purpose either, it is shoving India’s own problems under the rug. But ISI isn’t imaginary either?
Kush: Are you suggesting that Dawood Ibrahim was behind the riots in Bombay? I havnt heard that before. I would like to look into that.
ACD, Check out Hussain Zaidi’s Black Friday or the movie based on it.
Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon. As Comment #.30 said, what happened in riots, the blame rests on the people of Bombay. However, ISI was all too happy to provide kerosene and matches (Comment #.30). Why do they (DI and TM) live in Pakistan? What has Pakistan to gain from having them there?
I do agree that the connection between the Bombay bomb blasts and the then Muslim mafia in Bombay and Pakistan is pretty well established.
This is exactly what I am talking about when I say that North India is not as safe as south India.. I don’t think that anything like this has ever happened in the history of tamil nadu ever..
hey Chutiya: for #42, yes is the answer. You shud start looking outside the box.
I correct myself, ISI is even older than 1965, but again India (Kashmir) is the reason
You are wrong, There have been some incidents in Tamil Nadu as well, Coimbatore Blasts You could say South India is more safe and more tolerant, but these things do happen in the South.
Not true, there have been several instances of such attacks in tamil nadu.
ACFD, What I heard from my cop friend. DI and TM are sort of captives / sarkari mehmans. They know too much and could easily embarrass ISI. After 9/11, the US is very keen to shut down ops of Pakistan/Dubai based bhais (originally from Mumbai).