US embassy cable - 04CHENNAI1392

UNCLAS CHENNAI 001392 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, PTER, IN, Indian Domestic Politics 
SUBJECT: BLASTS ROCK HYDERABAD; EXTORTION NOT NAXALITE 
POLITICS TO BLAME 
 
1 (U) SUMMARY: A series of four bomb blasts in Hyderabad 
over the past several weeks appears to be the work of a 
small splinter group called the Communist Party of United 
States of India (CPUSI).  The explosions were all relatively 
small and seem to have been geared toward creating panic 
that might be exploited for the extortion of money from 
wealthy targets.  The People's War Maoist group, normal 
suspects in this type of incident in Andhra Pradesh, do not 
appear to have been involved in these incidents.  END 
SUMMARY 
 
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FOUR BLASTS IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS 
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2. (U) The latest in a series of bomb blasts in Hyderabad 
was probably targeted at media mogul Ramoji Rao whose ETV 
network serves nearly one billion viewers in India and 
abroad.  Rao also owns "Eenadu," India's largest circulation 
Telugu language daily with over one million readers.  The 
most recent blast occurred on November 4 near "Kalanjali" a 
popular handicraft showroom owned by Rao's family.  It was 
just the latest in a series of bomb explosions in the city. 
Two weeks earlier, an irrigation canal pipeline was blown up 
and last week, in separate incidents, explosions damaged two 
busses owned by private colleges in the city.  Gelignite 
residue was found at all of the bombsites. 
 
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NOT THE USUAL SUSPECTS THIS TIME 
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3. (U) When this type of action occurs in Andhra Pradesh, 
the usual suspects are the People's War group (PW) who 
recently announced their merger with another large Indian 
Maoist group, the Maoist Communist Center (MCC).  This time, 
though, it doesn't appear to be their work.  They are 
engaged in talks with the government of Andhra Pradesh and 
have announced a ceasefire during the talks. 
 
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POLICE BELIEVE EXTORSION IS THE MOTIVE 
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4. (U) Hyderabad Police Commissioner R. P. Singh told Post 
that the explosions appear to be the work of a small 
splinter group that broke away from the Naxalites and call 
themselves the Communist Party of United States of India 
(CPUSI).  Singh said that police were "90% sure" that this 
same group was behind all four blasts.  Extortion seems to 
have been the motive.  The group apparently was using the 
attacks to spread panic in the city as a prelude to 
extorting money from wealthy targets like Rao, private 
colleges with deep pockets and others. 
 
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MORE TO COME? 
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5. (U) COMMENT:  Violence in Andhra Pradesh like this series 
of explosions has often been the work of Naxalite Maoists. 
This time, however, it appears to have been a prelude to an 
effort at extortion by a small group who broke away from the 
Naxalites.  Without quick apprehension of the suspects, more 
blasts seem likely.  END COMMENT 
 
HAYNES