Communal Violence In Old City

Curfew has been imposed in the limits of 2 police stations in the Old City, following sporadic incidents of violence in Kurmadguda area.

Trouble started when 2 groups clashed in Kurmadaguda on Sunday morning. However, the reasons that triggered the violence were not yet known.

A group attacked some houses belonging to a particular community. The miscreants also tried to set ablaze some houses.

At least 12 people were injured in the clashes. The rioters also damaged several RTC buses, and set ablaze 2 motor-bikes.

The violence soon spread to other areas of the Old City. The communally sensitive areas of Saidabad, Madannapet, Kurmaguda and Santosh Nagar remained tense for several hours.

Police fired tear gas shells at several places, to control the violent mob.

All the injured were shifted to the Osmania General Hospital, where most of them were treated as out-patients. The condition of other injured persons is also said to be out of danger.

MIM MLAs Akbaruddin Owaisi, Ahmed Balala, Ahmed Pasha Quadri and Mumtaz Ahmed Khan and other corporators staged a dharna before the Saidabad ACP office, demanding action against the rioters.

They alleged that the police had failed to control the situation in the initial stages, which led to the spread of violence to other areas.

City Police Commissioner A K Khan and other senior police officials rushed to the spot, and security forces were deployed in large numbers in all the areas of the twin cities.

As a precautionary measure, the City Police has imposed a curfew in the Saidabad and Madannapet police station limits, for an indefinite period.

A K Khan told reporters that some miscreants were deliberately trying to create trouble in the city.

However, he said that several miscreants have been identified and taken into custody.

He said that students and officials appearing for the SCC and degree examinations have been exempted from the curfew. Hall tickets would be considered as the curfew passes for students and their parents, he said.

The Police Commissioner confirmed the arrest of 2 persons in connection with Sunday's violence.

He appealed to people not to believe any rumours, and to inform the police about the miscreants.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy held a meeting to review the law and order situation in the city.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister P Sabitha Indira Reddy, DGP V Dinesh Reddy and the Police Commissioner. (INN)