Hyderabad/ New Delhi: The death toll in the blast at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad and the incidents that followed has gone up to 12, police sources said on Friday evening.
Four people were killed when police fired to control a mob which was trying to burn a petrol pump in a congested locality. As many as 45 injured people are being treated at various hospitals.
"Police firing did take place and we can't rule out the death of some people because of police firing," Andhra DGP MA Bashit said.
Earlier, nine people were killed and 15 others were injured when a blast shook the crowded mosque in Hyderabad near the historic Charminar on Friday afternoon.
At least a thousand people were at prayer in the Mecca Masjid, the city’s largest mosque, when a blast shook the place at around 1325 hours.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajshekhar Reddy, who was in Delhi, said two bombs were defused at the mosque after the blast. Another live bomb was found some three hours later.
Hyderabad MP Assaudin Owasi claimed that his supporters saw an unattended bag at the mosque and claimed the blast was similar to the explosions in Malegaon and Nanded in Maharahstra last year.
Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh confirmed that a bag found at the mosque has been sent for forensic tests.
Hyderabad Joint Commissioner of police Harish Gupta said, “One bomb exploded and one recovered from the spot. Rescue operations are going on. Hyderabad city is on high alert. We have enough force no mobilisation from other part of Hyderabad. Situation is under control.”
PTI reports that a crowd threw stones at shops and police teams which arrived in the area after the blast. Officials said police did a lathicharge to control the crowd.
The Majlis-Ittehadul-Muslimeen or MIM and some other Muslim organisations have called for a Hyderabad bandh on Saturday to register their protest against the blast.
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in the communally sensitive area, where shops and businesses are shut.
Four injured people admitted to the Osmania hospital are in a serious condition. Reddy, who is in Delhi, announced that his government would give Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the dead people and Rs 20,000 to those injured. He asked people in the state to remain calm.
State Home Minister Jana Reddy said places near the mosque are tense but under control.
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