Hyderabad blasts: Focus on all alerts that came in after Afzal Guru hanging

In the wake of the serial blasts in Hyderabad Thursday, intelligence agencies are scanning alerts that came in soon after the hanging of Afzal Guru a fortnight ago. Sources said focus is on alerts regarding threats from Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Though officials said it was too early to link the blasts to a particular group, they did have information about some kind of a retaliatory attack. Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde also admitted that they "had information about an attack for the past two days".

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"The alerts were being circulated since Afzal was hanged. Most revolved around attacks in Kashmir... possibly none of them talked about any terror attack in any other part of the country," said a source.

After Afzal's hanging, LeT leader Hafiz Saeed had tweeted on February 12: "The mistake India has committed is beyond redemption, it's shameful Indian conscience is satisfied by the blood of the innocents. Kashmir is one, LoC is a meaningless divide. Kashmiri people have the right to fight for their right to self determination and freedom."

In 2007, two weeks before the Hyderabad blasts, Saeed was reported to have said that he had started a movement to "occupy" Muslim populated regions in India. In 2000, he was quoted as saying, "Kashmir is a gateway to capture India and campaigns in Hyderabad and Junagadh (Gujarat) are the highest priorities."

While security agencies are not sure about the relevance of Saeed's statements in the present context, a close watch is being kept on calls to and from Pakistan.

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