Terror in Karbala, tears in Hyderabad

The other two Indians executed by terrorists were also from Andhra Pradesh. Jaffer Mashadi was from the East Godavari district, while Dr Mir Mohuddin Beig lived about two hours away from Hyderabad.

Ahmed Ali’s small house in Noorkhan Bazaar, part of the old city, is overflowing with relatives, friends and local politicians. Ahmed Ali had gone on the pilgrimage alone this year, leaving his wife, three children, mother and brother back in Hyderabad.

The family received the news late last night from the family of M Beig. They later got a call from the Indian Embassy in Baghdad.

“The bus had 42 people in it, out of which 18 were men. The bus was on its way from Jordan to Karbala. At around noon, it broke down about 100 km from Karbala. Tour organiser Sayeeda Zainad told us that four armed men claiming to be policemen entered the bus,” says Haider. These men reportedly got the passengers to alight and take all their baggage out.

“We were told that they then put the women back in the bus and told them to go to Karbala, saying that the men would be interrogated and released after prayers.”

The travellers’ passports, money and valuables were all snatched by the assailants.

But after the women finished evening prayers, the men did not show up. The women then informed local police, who searched the area. Along with local police, some of the women went back to the spot where the bus had been boarded.

Fourteen bodies were found lying by the road. The Indians were part of these. The bodies have already been buried in Karbala.

Ali's wife, Mallika Begum, is in shock and unable to speak. They have three children Yousha Haider (17), Kumeil Haider (14) and Zaira Fatima (16). His relatives said that he worked at an STD booth, earning about Rs 1,500 per month, the sole earner for his family. About two hours away from Hyderabad, in the Ghatkesar village of the Rangareddy district, the mood...