Hyderabad blues for sure!

For many, Hyderabad represents the happening city where it all started. With Bangalore, the twin city spearheaded the IT revolution in the country. Its a land of history and culture, from the Golconda forts to the Nizam's Palace. It is the seat of higher learning, from the revered Osmania University to the brand new Indian School of Business. The city is dreaming big too, from Singapore inspired townships, slick IT parks, a new metro system and a new skyscraper zone, to name a few.

Alright, enough of the travel brochure. At the same time, the city represents a very dangerous base for terrorists and traitors of all kinds. For years our intelligence agencies have been warning of an alarming level of anti-national activities that foment from the city. An even more alarming trend is the rising number of Hyderabadis who are recruited to carry out the plans of those who want to hurt the nation.

The naxals and maoists (I think they mean the same thing) are already leading a war against the nation, without any visible reaction from the home ministry. Instead, our home minister prefers to call them our 'misguided youth'. Yep, the same ones who hijacked a train 2 days ago. Fortunately, that drama ended without any blood being shed, but I think its high time the Government woke up to the threat that some elements of the city represent.

Take for example the ISI threat to many call centers in the city. Apparently, for the bonehead policeman, they are merely 'anti-social elements'.

ISI threat sparks call center alert

Security has been tightened in Hyderabad after police received threats directed at US-based multinational companies.

Security has been tightened in the American call centres after reports of threats to MNCs. Apart from city policemen; a Quick Response Team has been deployed. Every checkpoint is manned by four security guards and two armed personnel.

"There are reports that all the IT companies, especially the foreign MNCs are under serious threat from anti-social elements like the ISI. We are providing round the clock check post facilities. We are checking every vehicle and monitoring every move here," Ram S Station House Officer, Madhapur Police Station said.

IT companies are also improving the security arrangements. So far about 38 companies have joined hands with police to form a security committee. The police is training the private security guards employed by the IT companies to detect human bombs and live explosives.

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This news item is 6 years old, and I would imagine the situation is probably much worse today.

Liberating Hyderabad is a priority for Lashkar-e-Toiba

For the last five years, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has been working to make Hyderabad the Silicon Valley of Asia.

And for the last eight years, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, the most deadly agency that aids militancy in South Asia, has been spreading that side.

Its mission: make Hyderabad the hub of its activities in South India.

Sleuths give several reasons for Hyderabad -- especially the Muslim-dominated Old City area -- emerging the epicentre of ISI operations after 1992. The Union home ministry and the state police have deployed special squads to bust its network, which officials concede connects Hyderabad to other sensitive areas in the south Indian states of AP, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

The nearly 12 Islamic fundamentalist organisations that are active in the four southern states, too, are under observation, sources say.