B.RAMAN
Eleven persons are reported to have been killed and
over 20 injured in two well-timed explosions in the Dilsukhnagar area of
Hyderabad around 7 PM on February
21,2013.
2. Initial reports indicated that one of the
improvised explosive devices had been placed in a cycle or motor-bike and the
other inside a tiffin box.These reports are yet to be confirmed. The two blasts
appear to have been well-timed and not remote-controlled.
3.I do not so far see any sign of sophistication in
the assembly of the IEDs and the synchronization of the blasts. There are no
reports of any crater on the ground.If a powerful explosive material had been
used, there would have been craters at the place where the IEDs had been
placed.
4.The deaths and injuries seem to have been caused
by the power of the blasts and not by the use of any projectiles such as nails,
bicycle ball-bearings etc.When an IED is placed in a cycle or motor-bike, there
would naturally be projectiles in the form of the splinters, but no other
projectile has been discovered.
5.Reports of damages to nearby buildings also do
not indicate the use of any powerful explosive material. The timer might have
been of a conventional nature in the form of a mechanical ( with a clock
attachment) or chemical device.
6.Two timed IEDs of this nature could have been
easily assembled and planted by one or two terrorists. The involvement of a
large team is unlikely.
7.The limited geographical area of the blasts also
rules out the involvement of a large team of terrorists.The objective of the
perpetrators was obviously to cause fatalities as an act of reprisal.
8.The indications till now are that the two blasts
are the handiwork of locals who were in a position to assemble the devices
quickly and use them.
9.Till more evidence is forthcoming, it would be
advisable not to speculate on the motive and the possible identity of the
perpetrators. (21-2-13)
( The writer is Additional Secretary (retd),
Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Twitter @SORBONNE75 )
