22 minutes ago
HYDERABAD, India (AFP) - Police in India's high-tech southern city of Hyderabad said they had called in thousands of reinforcements fearing fresh violence during major Hindu and Muslim religious events.
The city was rocked by bombings last month which killed 43 people, while bomb attacks on a mosque in May left 11 people dead.
Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh state, is home to the India headquarters of several hi-tech firms.
"Fifteen thousand policemen from the neighbouring districts have been deployed to assist the 8,000-strong city police," senior police official B. Reddenna told AFP on Friday.
"For the first time in 27 years, the Ramadan and Ganesh festivals come together. They are important festivals for both communities. As it is, it is not tense but the smallest incident may cause the greatest trouble," he said.
On Friday Muslims began the fasting month of Ramadan, while on Saturday Hindus begin a 10-day festival celebrating the elephant god Ganesh.
Security has also been stepped up in the western financial and entertainment hub of Mumbai, another city where police see a high risk of terror attacks and communal violence.
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