Hyderabad, March 29 (Inditop.com) An indefinite curfew was imposed in the old city of Hyderabad after communal violence continued for the third consecutive day Monday.
The curfew came into force from 7 p.m. Monday in all 17 police station areas, which come under south zone, Police Commissioner A.K. Khan said.
Khan termed the incidents “pre-planned” and said seventy people have been arrested so far.
The curfew was imposed hours after two fresh cases of violence erupted in areas around the historic Charminar — Shahali Banda, Moghalpura, Aliabad, Lal Darwaza, Shamsheergunj and other localities — besides Mecca Masjid in the old city.
Trouble broke out in Shahali Banda when a group tried to attack a place of worship. Police fired rubber bullets, used teargas shells and baton-charged the mob. Clashes were also reported from adjoining localities, shattering the calm prevailing since late last night.
Miscreants indulged in stone-throwing from dingy lanes and bylanes.
Police said additional forces, including the Rapid Action Force, were being sent to sensitive areas to control the situation.
Shops in the markets around the Charminar downed their shutters. State-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) also stopped plying buses on the Charminar-Falaknuma road, the busiest road in the old city.
Chief Minister K. Rosaiah told the state assembly Monday that additional forces from Delhi and neighbouring states were reaching Hyderabad.
Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy, who visited the old city this morning, also held a meeting with public representatives to review the situation.
The violence since Saturday night has left over 60 people injured. The violence, which broke out in Moosabowli area of Hussaini Alam following a quarrel between two groups over religious flags, spread to other areas with mobs armed with stones, sticks and even petrol bombs taking to the streets.
Incidents of stabbing, arson, stone pelting, attacks on places of worship, shops and vehicles were reported from over a dozen areas well past midnight Sunday.
Confusion prevailed among students appearing for Class 10 board examinations. The students and their parents were worried about their safety as several exam centres were located in troubled areas but the authorities went ahead with the examinations amid tight security.
Life in Cyberabad, the IT district housing giants like Microsoft and Google, remained unaffected by the disturbances in the old city. However, as a precautionary measure police have imposed prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons in Cyberabad police commissionerate limits.
