18 May 2007 Mecca Masjid bombing

Infobox civilian attack
title = Mecca Masjid Bombing


caption =
location = Hyderabad, Indiacoord|17.360106|78.473427|region:IN_type:landmark_scale:2000_source:wikimapia
target = Mecca Masjid
date = 18 May 2007
time = 13:15
timezone = IST (UTC+5.30)
type = RDX activated by Mobile
fatalities = 16
injuries = 100
perps =
susperps =
weapons =

On 18 May 2007, the old city area in Hyderabad, capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, experienced a bomb blast. The blast occurred inside the Mecca Masjid, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6668695.stm Article on BBC website] located very close to Charminar. The blast was caused by a cellphone-triggered pipe bomb. [http://deccan.com/home/homedetails.asp#Killer bomb in Mecca Masjid] ] Fourteen people were reported dead in the immediate aftermath, of whom five(official record:disputed) were killed by the police firing after the incident while trying to quell the mob. According to the "Deccan Chronicle," the bomb comprised a high explosive substance filled in a convert|10|in|mm|sing=on by convert|3|in|mm|sing=on pipe. The Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory claims that RDX and TNT were used in the 10" by 3" pipe bomb. The bomb was placed under a heavy granite slab that broke in two. Police later said that the slab had taken the force of the impact and saved many lives.

The blast occurred near the open air section of the Mecca Masjid. At the time of the blast more than 10,000 people were inside the mosque premises, for the Friday prayers. The injured were treated at the Osmania hospital in Hyderabad.

Following this Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra were put on alert. State Home Minister K Jana Reddy said the blast, which injured over fifty people in addition to the death toll, could be the act of foreign elements.

Rioting and Police firing

Five individuals died as a result of the police firing. This has caused considerable controversy. The Telegraph reports [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070519/asp/nation/story_7799987.asp The Telegraph - Calcutta : Nation ] ] :

:Six rounds were fired in the afternoon and evening to prevent shops and public property from being damaged, including petrol pumps and ATMs. One person was killed in the firing in the Moghapura area, while two fell to the police bullets elsewhere. Another lost his life when the police had to pull the trigger to control a mob trying to break into an ATM.

:According to police commissioner Balwinder Singh, his men resorted to firing after water cannons, tear gas and baton-charge failed to bring the mob fury under control.

It is reported that [ [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/05_2007/4-killed-as-cops-fire-on-frenzied-mob-40874.html Mob violence after Hyd blast, 4 killed : hyderabad, blast, mecca masjid, char minar, police firing, mob violence : IBNLive.com : CNN-IBN ] ] a frenzied mob attacked state-owned road transport corporation buses, forcing the closure of Falaknuma bus depot.

According to the police, the rioters were trying to set fire to a petrol pump. [ [http://www.timesnow.tv/Sections/Sports/Decoding_the_Hyderabad_blast/articleshow/2073160.cms Decoding the Hyderabad blast] ] Inspector P. Sudhakar of Falaknuma police station, who has been removed from his position on the charge of opening fire `indiscriminately' to control the rampaging mobs [ [http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/25/stories/2007052519790500.htm I've acted to avert a disaster: Inspector] ] stated::"While I asked my subordinates to be on high alert, mobs from Shalibanda and the mosque came towards Moghalpura pelting stones. They set ablaze a wine shop and charged towards a petrol pump where we were stationed."

:The mobs took out petrol from the dispenser and sprinkled it on the room. "When they tried to ignite it with the help of dry grass, I ordered my men to open fire with .303 rifles to disperse them," he says. "As the situation turned worse, I sought additional forces. Quick Reaction teams along with Moghalpura Inspector arrived and scattered the crowed by opening fire." At least 10 persons, including policemen, could have been killed if fire orders were not issued, he insists.

Charminar Division police officer B Reddena stated [ [http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=24dfdaae-7566-4379-a762-b7c120458df1&ParentID=6996442f-f5af-4b83-a098-ba9d6a495b68&MatchID1=4467&TeamID1=2&TeamID2=4&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1110&PrimaryID=4467&Headline=Hyderabad+on+the+edge+as+blast+toll+mounts+to+16 Hyderabad on the edge- Hindustan Times ] ] ::"The mob tried to set a petrol pump and some policemen ablaze. We had no option but to fire,"

However local politician MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi has stated that police could have could have controlled the situation without resorting to firing. [ [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/05_2007/hyderabad-police-under-fire-for-firing-40895.html Hyderabad Police under fire for firing : hyderabad, blast, mecca masjid, char minar, police firing : IBNLive.com : CNN-IBN ] ] :"Police wanted to cover up their mistakes, their wrong doings and they have ensured that innocent people die in police firing"

Some of those who were injured in the firing have claimed that they were doing nothing wrong. [ [http://www.milligazette.com/dailyupdate/2007/200705234_Report_fact_finding_bomb_blast_Mecca_Masjid_islamic_muslims.htm Report of the fact finding committee on the bomb blast at Mecca Masjid and subsequent police firing ] ]
# One person has claimed that he was fired at while he was proceeding towards his house by that side
# A 17-year-old boy has claimed that he was fired at while he was going into the Asra Hospital to donate his blood for one of his relatives.
#Yet another has claimed that he was fired at while he was trying to lift a fallen man due to bullet injuries

Local Muslim organisations have demanded immediate suspension of police officers involved in ‘unwarranted’ and ‘unprovoked’ firing on protestors following the bomb blast. [ [http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=India&month=May2007&file=World_News2007052792039.xml Muslim groups demand suspension of guilty cops] ]

# United Muslim Action Committee (UMAC) demanded that the guilty police officers be suspended pending the judicial probe into the firing.
# “We will submit the list of non-Muslim judges and the government may choose one of them to head the probe,” stated Hyderabad MP and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi.
# A committee led by eminent religious scholar Moulana Hameeduddin Auqil Hussami decided to demand Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy suspension of police officials involved in firing.

The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin [ [http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/may/23/american_muslims_indian_origin_condemns_blasts_hyderabad_gorakhpur.html American Muslims of Indian origin condemns blasts in Hyderabad & Gorakhpur | Indian Muslims ] ] took strong exception to the police firing on what it calls "panicked worshippers". Dr. Mukhi said it "could have been clearly avoided." He urged stern action against offending officers.

The chief minister has announced a judicial probe into firing. He also announced a payment of Rs. 600,000 to each familiy of the deceased, and said a member of each of the affected families would be given a government job. [ [http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/May202007/national200705202735.asp?section=frontpagenews Deccan Herald - Death toll in blasts goes up to 16 ] ]

ee also

* 2006 Malegaon blasts

References

External links

* [http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=371922&sid=REG&ssid= Article on Zee News]
* [http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7e847128-fd9b-4975-82a6-d4385a563f8b Bomb hits mosque in India]
* [http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/18blast.htm 9 killed in Hyderabad blast; 5 in police firing]
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18737509/ Bomb hits Indian Mosque] (MSNBC)
* [http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/05/18/india.blast/index.html 5 killed in Indian Mosque attack] (CNN)