Bomb scare at Dilsukhnagar temple

Sai Baba temple was the target of terrorists at least thrice earlier

Hyderabad: A bomb scare forced the management and devotees of the famous Sai Baba temple in Dilsukhnagar to press the panic button on Monday. An unidentified caller informed Saroornagar police that a bomb has been planted on the premises of the temple. Soon, the bomb and dog squads reached the place and evacuated the devotees to take up the intensive search. Later, the anti-bomb squad found nothing and said this could be a hoax call.

Dilsukhnagar Sai Baba temple has been a target of the terrorists at least thrice earlier. In 2002, a cycle bomb was placed near the temple, injuring few persons. In 2007 again, a bomb was planted near the temple. However, the police managed to successfully diffuse the bomb before it exploded.

Two other bombs, one at Lumbini Park and the other at Gokul Chat Bhandar, however exploded killing scores. In 2013, two bombs exploded close to the temple, one at A1 Mirchi Bajji Centre and the other at the Venkatadri Cinema. Reports suggested that the temple was the real target, but the terrorists had to change their plans at the last moment as the then city police commissioner Anurag Sharma paid a visit to the temple and there was heavy police deployment around the temple.