BOMB BLAST AT HYDERABAD POLICE STATION

UNCLAS CHENNAI 002441

SIPDIS

DEPART FOR DS/IP/SA DAN MAHANTY, DS/DSS/ITA FOR STEVEN
CAPELLI, DS/DSS/OSAC FOR BLAIR JOHANNESSEN, NEW DELHI FOR
RSO, MUMBAI FOR RSO AND CALCUTTA FOR CG AND ADM/PSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PTER CASC IN
SUBJECT: BOMB BLAST AT HYDERABAD POLICE STATION

REF: A. NEW DELHI 7911

B. CHENNAI 02381


1. (U) Summary: According to press reports confirmed by local
police, a powerful blast ripped through the city Police
Commissioners Task Force offices in Hyderabad on the evening
of October 12. The blast was believed to be carried out by a
suicide bomber, but this has yet to be confirmed. One police
officer was killed and another injured. The identity of the
suspected bomber is still unknown. End Summary


2. (U) On the evening of October 12th, a powerful blast
ripped through the Police Commissioner's Task Force offices
in the Greenland area of Hyderabad, killing one police
officer and injuring another. A second body, that of the
suspected suicide bomber is still unidentified at this time.
According to witnesses a man carrying a back pack entered the
compound at about 1930 hours and stated that he had an
appointment with a senior police official. Minutes later
there was an explosion.


3. (SBU) Post has verified through RSO local police contacts
that the incident occurred, however those same contacts will
not confirm that it was in fact a suicide bomber. There is
still one unidentified body at the scene whom police believe
to be the perpetrator. Hyderabad police contacts also confirm
that one police officer remains in critical condition. The
injured officer is believed to be the last person to see the
person carrying the back pack before the explosion.


4. (SBU) RSO has dispatched a FSNI to Hyderabad to glean
further information and to report back to Post any new
developments.


5. (SBU) The Task Force Office where the blast occurred is
only 100 meters away from the official residence of Andhra
Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister Y S R Reddy. Reddy's government
recently imposed a ban on the CPI (Maoist) and related
groups, also known as Naxalites, which is expected to result
in an increase in violence in AP (Reftel). This incident
could be a manifestation of that increased violence.


6. (SBU) RSO was also contacted by an OSAC representative who
reported that a bomb threat was called in on October 12 at
approximately 1652 hours to the Cyber Gateway Towers which
houses several American businesses. A search of the building
was conducted with negative results. The OSAC rep reported
that similar calls were made to other offices of the same
company at other locations in India. The company in question
believes that it was a hoax in order for employees to get the
day off as it was a local holiday.

COMMENT:


7. (SBU) The police station bombing and bomb threat in
Hyderabad are receiving extra public and press attention
because they come two days after the Mission issued a warden
message advising of possible threats against American
interest (se ref A). We have seen no indication that the
bombing is linked to that threat, however we are pursuing
that possibility. As mentioned in para 5, it is just as
likely the bombing is part of the rising tide of domestic
political violence in Andrea Pradesh. End Comment.


8. (U) Post will continue to monitor the situation and will
report any development Septel.


9. (U) Point of contact is Colin P Bucknor, RSO, at
91-44-8113919 (STE),91-44-2811-200, ext. 5000 (unclassified)
HOPPER