Hyderabad: 16 policemen were on duty at the time of blast

Hyderabad: At the time of the blast at the Mecca Masjid, 16 policemen in civilian clothes were on “duty”. Mirza Abdullah Baig, who was head constable of the Hussainialam police station and in-charge of the mosque security, told the NIA special court that there were 16 policemen in civilian clothes inside the masjid at the time of blast.

The policemen were drafted for watch duty and they were divided into three groups five, five and six and were guarding various positions inside the mosque.
The policemen first reported to the assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Charminar, and were later deployed within the mosque premises.