'Lashkar, Jaish in realm of suspicion for Hybd blasts'

NEW DELHI: Security agencies are suspecting that Pakistan-based terror outfits like Laskhar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad may be behind the deadly Hyderabad blasts that claimed 40 lives, the government said on Monday.

"Investigations into this incident are in a very, very preliminary stage and based on some information so far some possibilities have been identified and expressed," Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta said here.

"These elements or organisations are clearly outside the country and they resort to fuelling such kinds of activities." he told here after flagging off a BSF mountaineering expedition.

Asked if any group has been identified, he said while the probe was in its initial stages, security agencies and state police were suspecting the role of Laskhar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad.
   
"But what is more important is to nab those who planned it and those who executed it," he said.

His comments came a day after Home Minister Shivraj Patil refused to specify whether terror groups based in Pakistan and Bangladesh were behind the Saturday night attacks.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has already blamed 'international terrorist organisations' based in Pakistan and Bangladesh for the twin blasts.

When his attention was drawn to the recent Home Secretary level talks between India and Bangladesh during which the two sides had assured each other of cooperation in security related matters, Gupta said "we have been raising our concerns at the multilateral and bilateral foray."

"We intend to set up a mechanism with Bangladesh where actionable intelligence could be shared with each other."

Emphasizing the need for strengthening the intelligence apparatus of state governments, the Home Secretary said five per cent of the funds allocated for police modernisation have been earmarked for the purpose.