Thaindian News

Hyderabad, May 14 (IANS) A policeman was killed and two others were injured when two people on a motorcycle opened fire on a police picket in the old city of Hyderabad Friday. A high alert has been sounded across the city.
The incident took place this evening near Volga Hotel in Shahali Banda area, about a km from the historic Charminar and Mecca Masjid.

Eye witnesses said two people on a motor cycle opened fire on a police picket deployed as part of the security arrangements ahead of the third anniversary of the blast at the historic Mecca Masjid (May 18). The assailants fled after attacking the policemen.

Constable Ramesh, of the Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP), died while being shifted to Osmania Hospital while two other policemen were being treated for their injuries.

Police have put up barricades at several points in the city and started checking vehicles and frisking people.

The incident sent shock waves as it came despite the continuing search operations by police for over a fortnight amid intelligence warnings of possible terror attacks and close on the heels of the arrest of a terror suspect.

Last year, on the second anniversary of the blast, a policeman was killed and another injured in a similar attack when assailants opened fire on police at Falaknuma area of the old city.

Police believed Viqaruddin, an alleged terror operative, was involved. Two policemen were injured Dec 3, 2008 in the attempt to arrest Viqaruddin, when one of the two people accompanying him opened fire at the policemen. The trio managed to escape.

The bomb blast during Friday prayers in the 17th century mosque May 18, 2007 killed nine people. Five people died in the subsequent police firing on protestors outside the mosque.

Police May 3 arrested an alleged terror suspect belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Police said 34-year-old Mohammed Zia-ul-Haq was planning to cause explosions in busy areas of the city.