Maharashtra on high alert following Hyderabad blast

MUMBAI: Maharashtra was put on high alert on Friday with security being stepped up on its rail network and in communally sensitive areas following a blast in a mosque in Hyderabad.

"The entire state is on high alert following the blast and special attention is being given to communally sensitive areas in the state like Aurangabad, Malegaon and Bhiwandi which have a history of communal clashes," state police chief P S Pasricha said.

Security has been beefed up along the railway lines and roads following the Hyderabad blast that killed five people.

A minor incident of stone-pelting at state-run buses was reported from the communally sensitive suburb of Kurla. Some eight to 10 people pelted stones at the buses in Kurla at 2.35pm, damaging the windows of four buses, DCP D M Phadtare said.

A team from the state's Anti-Terrorism Squad led by a DIG is expected to visit the blast site in Hyderabad to study the attack, ATS Chief K P Raghuvanshi said.

Seven near simultaneous explosions on Mumbai's local trains on July 11 last year killed nearly 200.

"Security around vital installations like oil refineries and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has been increased," Mumbai Police Commissioner D N Jadhav said.

The ATS and the Special Branch of police have been asked to be extra vigilant and peace committee meetings are being held in communally sensitive areas, he said.

Phadtare said extra security cover comprising SRPF personnel had been put in place in Kurla and peace committee meetings were held to prevent untoward incidents.