One bomb explodes, another is defused

The count goes up to five as another bomb goes off at the railway tracks near Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD:

Railway traffic around Hyderabad was once again forced to halt on Tuesday  after a bomb went off at the railway tracks near the Detha Station - around six kilometres east of Hyderabad.

This was the second attack on the railway lines near Hyderabad within the last 24 hours - the first of which involved four bombs planted at the Guddu railway tracks between Kotri and Hyderabad that went off on Monday afternoon.

Tuesday’s blast reportedly formed a two-foot deep crater in the track between Hyderabad and Tando Jam, forcing the Bahauddin Zakaria Express — which was headed to Karachi from Multan and was about to pass through the area — to stop. Other train services were also stopped at stations around Hyderabad.

The Bomb Disposal Squad, Rangers and police personnel reached the scene soon after the explosions were heard and found another bomb strapped to the railway track. The BDS managed to defuse the bomb, after which the railway administration also arrived to repair the track and trains were once again allowed to pass through the area.

According to BDS officials, each of the two homemade time bombs was packed with 500 grams of highly explosive material.

Meanwhile, cases against the unidentified suspects involved in Monday’s and Tuesday’s blasts have been registered at the Hussainabad, Qasimabad and Rahoki police stations while DS railways Mukhtar Memon said that a number of suspects have already been arrested in connection with the attacks and that the security forces are “busy tracing” more culprits.

DPO Hyderabad Muneer Ahmed Shaikh said that the arrested suspects are currently being interrogated.

He added that the Detha blast was a continuation of the “terrorist attacks” on the railway system. While Shaikh claimed that he had taken “the strictest of security measures” by adding to the existing number of police officials deployed near railway tracks, he added that it would be impossible to watch over the entire stretch of railway tracks in and around the city.

Man arrested for the possession of explosive material

The Hyderabad police raided a house in Phuleli and arrested a man, identified as Saleem Shaikh. They also seized 40 kilogrammes of explosive material and a pistol from his possession.

The Phuleli police also registered an FIR against Shaikh. During initial investigations, the suspect told the police that he was in the business of making fireworks. However, he admitted to handling explosive material without obtaining a government license.

Additional Input from PPI/Online/APP.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2010.