Hyderabad, March 29 (Inditop.com) Tension in Hyderabad continued Monday following overnight clashes in the communally sensitive old part of the city and attacks on places of worship in several areas.
Additional forces, including paramilitary forces, were rushed to the city to bring the situation under control following incidents of violence since Saturday night that have left 60 people injured.
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. Police opened fire in the air, used teargas shells and batons to bring the situation under control.
Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy, however, who visited the old city Monday morning, told the state assembly that the situation was now under control.
Director General of Police Girish Kumar, who visited the troubled areas late Sunday, said adequate forces were being deployed to bring the situation under control.
Police have imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of the criminal procedure code banning assembly of five or more people in the old city and some communally sensitive areas of the new city.
Utter confusion prevailed among students appearing for Class 10 board examinations. The students and their parents were worried over their safety as several exam centres were located in troubled areas but the authorities went ahead with the examinations amid tight security.
The violence, which broke out Saturday night in Moosabowli area of Hussaini Alam following a quarrel between two groups over religious flags, spread to new areas Sunday with mobs armed with stones, sticks and even petrol bombs taking to the streets.
Miscreants attacked passersby with knives and other sharp-edged weapons in Gowliguda, Falaknuma, Shamsheergunj and Chatrinaka areas after asking them to identify themselves. Women and children were not spared either. About a dozen places of worship were targeted by unruly crowds, who also torched a few shops, a cattle shelter and vehicles.
Police Commissioner A.K. Khan has termed the incidents “pre-planned”. Seventy people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
