Delhi Red Fort blast and Jubilee Hills bypoll trigger heightened security in Hyderabad

On a tense Tuesday (November 11, 2025) morning, Hyderabad woke to a visible surge in uniformed presence. From the glassy corridors of the IT hub in Cyberabad to the bustling lanes around Nampally Railway Station, policemen stood at every turn, checking vehicles, scanning bags, and watching crowds with renewed intensity.

The heightened security followed Monday evening’s high-intensity blast near the Red Fort Metro Station in Delhi, which killed at least 13 people and injured several others, prompting States across the country to go on alert. Following the blast, all city [in Telangana] commissioners and district SPs were alerted to deploy Blue Colts and other field units for heightened vigilance. In Hyderabad, the alert coincided with polling for the Jubilee Hills Assembly byelection which began early around 7 a.m.

Personnel from RGIA police and bomb detection squad along with sniffer dogs at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA).

Visible policing

“We are doing more visible policing. Reassurance is the primary goal, but the move is also aimed at ensuring our force is ready to tackle any incident better,” said Additional DGP Mahesh Bhagwat. “Presence of the force has been increased across the State, especially in high-footfall areas and those identified as sensitive based on past incidents.”

Across the city, vehicles were checked through the night. Motorists were stopped at random, bags were inspected, and sniffer dogs moved through crowded areas and bus depots. In Cyberabad, which houses the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) and IT corridor, check posts were doubled and patrols intensified.

Cyberabad police working with private security agencies

Cyberabad Police Commissioner, Avinash Mohanty, said that his teams were working closely with private security agencies in the IT corridor. “We are also coordinating with IT parks and companies to see if they can enhance checks on who is entering and leaving the premises,” he said, adding that vigilance has been increased around large office campuses.

Inside police stations across the Commissionerates, the focus has shifted to pre-emptive surveillance. Officers were tasked with monitoring the movements of known offenders, particularly those with a record of communal or disruptive behaviour.

Hyderabad

In Hyderabad, crowded markets, metro stations, tourist sites and other public places were brought under a round-the-clock camera watch. Hyderabad Police Commissioner, V.C. Sajjanar, said that a layered system of monitoring and response was already in place. “We have standard operating protocols for all vital installations,” he said.

The police have also begun sensitising agencies such as the Railways and Road Transport Corporation (RTC) to check for unattended baggage or suspicious persons. “If citizens see a parked vehicle for too long or notice anything unusual, they must report it immediately,” Mr. Sajjanar said.

At the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in the city, large screens flickered with live feeds from thousands of cameras across the city. Officials there are under instructions to flag even the smallest anomaly. “Sensitive areas are being continuously monitored 24×7, and we have incident response protocols in place,” Mr. Sajjanar added.

On standby are the city’s bomb disposal squads, Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS) commandos, Rapid Action Force, Swift Women Action Team and other specialised units. “Over 10,000 officials from Hyderabad police alone are on ground in the city, to ensure citizen safety as well as a smooth polling process,” the Hyderabad Police Commissioner said.