By Mohammed Shafeeq, IANS
Hyderabad : Three days after twin bomb blasts rocked Hyderabad killing 43 people, life limped back to normalcy Wednesday even as a sense of fear and insecurity haunted the citizens.
It was business as usual in this Andhra Pradesh capital with people attending to their daily chores. For the first time after Saturday’s blasts, the hustle bustle returned to the city.
The weekly holiday Sunday, a shutdown call by BJP on Monday followed by a general holiday on account of Raksha Bandhan Tuesday had kept majority of the people indoors over the last three days.
The usual chaos returned to the busy streets Wednesday with all educational institutions, offices and business establishments re-opening after three days.
However, it may take some more time to overcome the shock of the worst-terror attacks in the history of the city known for its monuments, biryani and in recent years for information technology.
The second terror attack in three months has badly shaken the confidence of citizens in the police and security agencies. People never bothered about security while visiting theatres, parks, hotels and places of worship but after Saturday’s blasts at Lumbini Park in the heart of the city and at Gokul Chat, a popular eatery, no place looks safe.
“After the place of worship, terrorists have targeted a park and a snacks bar. Where is the safety for citizens?” asked Rajeswar Reddy, a software professional working for a multi-national company. He said he would keep himself and his family members away from parks and theatres, at least for now.
Nine people were killed in the May 18 blast during Friday prayers at 17th century Mecca Masjid in the Muslim-majority old city. Hours later, five more people were killed when police opened fire to disperse a violent mob near the mosque.
“Hyderabad had not seen the face of terror and when so many innocent people including children and women were brutally killed it is natural for people to think twice before stepping into a park or a hotel,” K. Sujata, a housewife, told IANS.
“Today there may be a sense of insecurity because the images of terror are fresh in mind but people have a short-lived memory and after lying low for a while terrorists might strike again. This is what happened after the Mecca Masjid blast.
People were alert and there was heavy security for a few days and everybody woke up only after Saturday’s tragedy,” said Amjad Ali, who runs a medical store in Mehdipatnam area.
The Lumbini Park and other tourist hot spots surrounding the picturesque Hussain Sagar remain almost deserted.
Several theatres have been forced to cancel their shows as police have made it clear that they would allow them to run only after metal detectors are installed. Dozens of shopping malls, which have changed the landscape of the city in recent years, have also been asked to take similar security measures.
The blasts have also hit the tourism industry in the state. The number of tourists coming to Charminar, the symbol of Hyderabad, Mecca Masjid, Golconda fort and Salarjung museum has come down.
Saturday’s attacks had claimed lives of nine tourists. Seven students of an engineering college and two railway employees of Madhya Pradesh were among those killed.
Meanwhile, under attack for failing to prevent the blasts despite intelligence warnings, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh has formed 100 special teams to work round the clock to improve the security and prevent further attacks.
Each team, headed by an officer of sub-inspector rank, will be equipped with metal detectors, dragon lights and communication sets.
They will conduct checks on lodges, vehicles and public and private places where large crowds gather.