Hyderabad: Fresh incidents of communal
violence erupted here on Monday following which curfew was clamped
in the entire south zone area in the old city even as the
Centre rushed 1,800 paramilitary personnel to help police
restore peace in the sensitive areas.
Fresh incidents of violence were reported in Mogulpur,
Shalibanda, Charminar, Lal Darwaza and Aliabad areas, DGP
Girish Kumat said.
Following the clashes curfew was ordered in the entire
south zone area in the old city from 7 pm, he said.
Worried over the clashes, the Home Ministry has rushed
1,800 paramilitary personnel. About 400 Rapid Action Force
(RAF) personnel have already reached the Andhra Pradesh
capital while 400 more RAF personnel are being airlifted from
Ahmedabad and Coimbatore.
"We are also sending 700 additional CRPF and 300 CISF
personnel to Hyderabad to assist local police in handling the
situation arising out of the violence," a Home Ministry
official said in Delhi.
At least 36 people were injured in stone-pelting and
70 others taken into custody after the clashes between two
communities in the old city that erupted last evening.
Trouble began in Musarambagh area under Hussaini Alam
police station limits when members of a community wanted to
erect religious flags near a place of worship which was
objected to by the other community, leading to clashes which
escalated yesterday and spread to other parts.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah said his government was
taking every step to ensure peace and appealed to all sections
to observe restraint. "AICC President Sonia Gandhi called me
over phone today and enquired about the situation. She has
also appealed for peace," he said.
Opposition parties pressed for a discussion in the
assembly through an adjournment motion on the issue but
Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy disallowed it.
Majlis Ittehadul-e-Muslimeen floor leader Akbaruddin
Owaisi said the situation in old city was so volatile that
students were unable to venture out to go to the examination
centres. He wanted the government to postpone ongoing exams.
Education Minister D Manikya Varaprasada Rao assured
Owaisi that the government would take an appropriate decision
on the examinations after obtaining a report on the situation.
Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu appealed to
people to observe restraint and ensure that things did not
flare up.
PTI
