The Black Day call given by various Muslim organisations to mark the 22nd anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya passed off peacefully across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.
The bandh call evoked mixed response in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. While almost all shops, business establishments and educational institutions in the Old City remained closed, the impact was partial in areas of the new city.
All the markets around Charminar remained closed, and even the lanes and by-lanes in the Old City wore a deserted look till afternoon.
Elaborate security arrangements were made in the Old City, especially in the sensitive areas.
Senior officials including Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy visited the Old City and monitored the security arrangements.
The police officials felt relieved after the Zohar prayers passed off peacefully at the historic Mecca Masjid. A few minutes after the Zohar prayers, the movement of the general traffic around Charminar was restored.
The Majlis Bachao Tehreek leaders submitted a memorandum to Governor E S L Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan demanding the re-construction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya at its original site.
About 10 activists of Darsgah Jihad-o-Shahat were arrested by the police for holding a protest at Moghalpura. (INN)
filed in:Muslims, Old City, Black Day, Babri Masjid, Religion