Andhra Pradesh shuts down to protest terror attacks

By IANS

Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Monday observed a daylong shutdown called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to protest against terrorism in the wake of the twin bomb blasts here Saturday evening that claimed 42 lives.


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Bus services of the state-owned road transport corporation came to a halt in parts of the state while private educational institutions declared a holiday. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has extended support to the strike.

BJP workers gathered in different parts of Hyderabad and other towns, especially in the Telangana region, to enforce the shutdown. They did not allow buses to come out of depots and staged demonstrations to protest against the terror attacks.

The two near-simultaneous bomb blasts at Lumbini Park near state secretariat and Gokul Chat, a popular eatery, killed 42 people and injured 70 others.

And this information technology hub is still trying to recover from the shock of the worst-ever terror attacks in the southern state.

Refusing to bow down to the terrorists, a large number of citizens took part in a candle light demonstration at Lumbini Park Sunday night. Prominent personalities including actors Jayasudha, Vishnuvardhan, MP Madhu Yakshi Goud and state Congress president K. Keshava Rao participated in the demonstration, where slogans were raised against Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

Meanwhile, police have picked up 10 people from different parts of the city and outskirts for questioning. They include three suspects who reportedly provided iron balls for making bombs.

In Nagpur city of neighbouring Maharashtra, Sohail, owner of Amin Explosives was taken into custody for questioning. Police said the Neogel 90 used in the unexploded bomb recovered from a cinema theatre after the blasts was made by his company.

However, police commissioner Balwinder Singh has denied the arrests. Police suspect the involvement of Bangladesh-based Harkat ul Jihadi Islami (HUJI) in the terror bombings.

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