Shoot-at-sight in old city

Shoot at sight orders have been issued in Old City and indefinite curfew was extended to eight more places on Tuesday as clashes spread to more areas.

Fresh clashes broke out at Musheerabad, Nallagutta, Ramgopalpet, Begum Bazar, Kavadiguda, Rasoolpura, Malakpet and Kavadiguda in the wake of a religious procession.

One person suffered bullet injury on Tuesday after police opened fire on a mob resorting to violence at Karwan.

A huge mob ransacked two shops at Begum Bazar chatri, and set one shop on fire. Police fired at least 16 rounds including teargas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the mob. Six persons reportedly sustained injuries after being hit by bullets.

Eight persons, including a couple sustained injuries in sporadic incidents of stone pelting at Mangalhat and Puranapul. Most of the injured have been admitted in the Osmania General Hospital.

In the wake of the continuing clashes, indefinite curfew has been imposed in Afzalgunz, Begumbazar, Shahinathgunz, Tappachaputra, Asifnagar, Mangalhat, Kulsumpura and Habibnagar.

Curfew is unlikely to be relaxed on Wednesday morning and police has warned of action against those who enter public streets without letters from the competent authority.

The city commissioner, Mr A.K. Khan, said that police has been asked to take the maximum possible action against unruly mobs. “That includes opening fire at mobs resorting to violence and attacks," he asserted.

In all, two persons have died in the clashes in the Old City so far, even as new bouts of violence left 112 people injured.

Trouble was triggered on Tuesday by a religious procession that moved from Gowilpura to Tadbun in Bowenpally. All along the route there were clashes and several people were injured in stone pelting and attacks.

Clashes that began in South Zone limits of the Old City spread to Central Zone, West, East and North Zones.

City cops came under sever criticism for permitting the procession through sensitive areas. At some places hundreds of motorcycle-borne men deviated from the original procession route and resorted to violence. There was retaliation from the other group, leading to clashes.

The commissioner visited Musheerabad area soon after the clashes broke out. Two groups also clashed in Bholakpur and Indiranagar and set fire to several vehicles.

“We have taken around 25 trouble-makers into custody and three persons were injured in the clash at Musheerabad,” said the Central Zone DCP, Mr Hari Kumar. “We are making the leaders of both the communities sit together and sort the issues."

The North Zone DCP, Mr Murali Krishna, admitted that many who took part in the procession had deviated from the route.

Meanwhile, ordinary people were put to untold difficulty because of the clashes and curfew in more than 20 localities across the city.

"Police should relax curfew at least for two hours during day so that people can purchase vegetables, milk and other essentials," said Mr Abdul Hameed, a resident of Falaknuma.

Hundreds of rail passengers were also put to hardship following violence in Musheerabad, Bholakpur and areas adjacent to Secunderabad railway station. Though all the trains were operated as usual, many travellers found it difficult to reach the station.

"So far, we have not cancelled trains including MMTS services,” said Chandrima Roy, chief public relations officer of SCR. “We are taking the help of local police to know the situation in the city.”

The Hyderabad city region of APSRTC has cancelled around 400 bus services in Old City areas. Meanwhile, police informed that curfew passes were being issued at main control room, the commissioner of police office and the special branch office.