Hyderabad: The twin blasts at Dilsukhnagar triggered a total shut down of the old city with a large number of traders voluntarily shutting their shops and the police ordering the closure of the remaining establishments. Almost a curfew- like situation prevailed by 9 pm in the old city. A high alert has been sounded all over the state and police has intensified its frisking operations. A large posse of policemen took over the area near Charminar and Mecca Masjid where congregational prayers would be offered on Friday. Heavy police security has been placed at all the temples and mosque and other sensitive areas.Local leaders appealed to the Muslim youth to offer prayers in the mosques in their areas, instead of going to Macca Masjid for noon prayers on Friday. With private television channels flashing news of the terror groups like Indian Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed, as suspects, and that the bomb blasts could be to avenge the hanging of Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab, a fear psychosis has spread across the lanes and by lanes of the city. “No one wants the police to knock on their doors. The Muslim youth are picked up from various parts of the city whenever such incidents take place. For Muslims, this is unfortunate, as they are peace loving people,” said a senior citizen from Hussaini Alam.
