M A I N   N E W S

18 dead as twin blasts rock Hyderabad
* Over 80 injured, many critical
* Bombs planted on bicycles
* IM hand suspected
* NIA, NSG teams begin probe
Tribune News Service & PTI

Hyderabad/New Delhi, Feb 21
At least 18 persons were killed and over 80 injured as two bomb blasts ripped through a busy locality here this evening. The explosions occurred in quick succession at a crowded eatery near a theatre and at a foot over-bridge in the busy Dilsukhnagar area.

The first explosion occurred around 7.10 pm near Anand Tiffin Centre, spreading panic in the area. The two bombs, placed on bicycles, went off within a radius of 150 metres.

A third bomb, planted in a scooter near a theatre, was defused by the police. Police source said at least 18 persons died and over 80 injured in the incident. The condition of five injured was serious, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said.

City Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravi Verma said the bombs were planted on two bicycles - one near the eatery and another near the bus station. The bombs were kept in steel lunch boxes.

The police feared the death toll could rise as the condition of some of the injured was critical. The blasts, five minutes apart, occurred during rush hour, triggering panic in the area. Bomb disposal squads arrived at the scene and found a bomb planted in a scooter. The city police was put on high alert and mobile phone networks were jammed in and around Dilsukhnagar to prevent rumours.

“We will ensure stringent punishment to those who committed this dastardly act,” CM Reddy said. Teams of the National Security Guards (NSG) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also arrived in the city to conduct the probe. The local police suspected the involvement of Indian Mujahideen (IM) behind the blasts. The state government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 6 lakh to the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh to the injured.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and said those behind the dastardly act will not go unpunished.

Targets: Eatery, overbridge

• The first explosion occurred at 7.10 pm and the other followed after five minutes in the crowded Dilsukhnagar area
• The blasts took place near a popular eatery and a foot overbridge
• The third bomb, planted in a scooter, was defused

The Terror Timeline

New Delhi (Sept 7, 2011): One killed, 24 injured in a blast outside the Delhi High Court.

Mumbai (July 13, 2011): Three blasts rock Mumbai, killing 26 persons and injuring 130.

Varanasi (Dec 7, 2010): 2-year-old girl killed & 25 others injured in a blast on the ghats of Ganga.

Pune (Feb 13, 2010): Seventeen persons killed and over 60 injured in a bomb blast at German bakery.

Mumbai (Nov 26, 2008): 166 persons killed in coordinated LeT strikes on the crowded CST railway station & two five-star hotels-Oberoi & Taj.