Mecca Masjid case has gone cold

The Mecca Masjid case has gone cold even though the CBI has been investigating it for 20 months,said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday....

The Mecca Masjid case has gone cold even though the CBI has been investigating it for 20 months,said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday.

The reason is,we believe,that the two primary suspects in the case are dead. The case has gone cold now. Unless some fresh clues come up,we cannot investigate further. There is nothing that can be done about it. But the CBI is still working on the case, he said. The Home Minister also said that a chargesheet would soon be filed in the August 26,2007 twin blast cases of Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park.

Eleven people had died in the bomb blast at the Mecca Masjid on May 18,2007,and five died in police firing immediately after the incident. Separate FIRs were filed in both the incidents.

The blast case,initially investigated by the Andhra Pradesh Police,was handed over to the CBI on May 24,2007. While police investigation focused on the involvement of terror groups,Muslim groups alleged that it was the handiwork of radical Hindu outfits.

The CBI,investigating the case for 20 months,has not been able to achieve a breakthrough.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More