Row over putting up of flags continues to simmer with fresh incidents being reported
The violence that erupted at Moosabowli in the old city here following a dispute over putting up flags on Saturday night continued to simmer with fresh incidents being reported in several localities in the old city and its environs.
Twentyeight persons, including video and photo journalists, were injured after mobs attacked them. Police resorted to firing of rubber bullets at Moosabowli and Shamshergunj to control the rampaging mobs.
SIT probe
Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters later that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) would investigate the incidents and 70 persons were already taken into custody. Mobs set afire a shop and two wheelers at Gowliguda Kaman. In all, five vehicles were damaged in the violence. A goshala was also torched at Shamshergunj. Panic griped the residents of old city following rumours of communal clashes spreading, through SMSes. As tension escalated, shopkeepers in commercial areas of Siddiamber Bazar, Begum Bazar, Gowliguda, Afzalgunj and M.J Market rolled down the shutters.
Trouble over flags
On Saturday night, communal tension flared up over erection of flags by a community and objections by another in Moosabowli. Soon, this led to arguments and stone pelting in Hussainialam and Mylardevpalli in Rajendernagar, Siddiamber Bazar and Afzalgunj.
Small gangs armed with sticks moved around menacingly in some lanes beating up whoever they came across. Equipment of a daily's photographer too was smashed in the melee. Few shops were also selectively targeted and burnt by mobs in Begum Bazar, eyewitnesses said.
The situation turned worse at Siddiambar Bazar main road in the afternoon when some persons hurled stones on a religious structure triggering tension in the adjoining areas like Gowliguda and Begum Bazar. A vain bid was made to torch a petrol pump but alert staff thwarted it at Afzalgunj. There were reports of some places of worship being targeted at Kandikalgate, Afzalgunj, Shamshergunj and Enginebowli.
CM reviews situation
Chief Minister K. Rosaiah asked the police officials to ensure that there were no further untoward incidents in the twin cities ahead of Hanuman Jayanthi scheduled in the next two days.
Soon after returning from his tour of Krishna district, Mr. Rosaiah held a high level meeting of senior police officials. The meeting attended by the Home Minister P.Sabitha Indra Reddy, DGP R. R. Girish Kumar, Police Commissioner A. K. Khan, IG (Intelligence) M. Mahender Reddy saw the Chief Minister making it clear that there should be no compromise in maintaining law and order situation in the old city.
Showing posts with label Rapid Action Force. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rapid Action Force. Show all posts
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Paramilitary forces pulled out of Osmania University
Following the orders of Andhra Pradesh High Court, the state government on Wednesday pulled out Rapid Action Force and other paramilitary forces from the Osmania University campus here.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that the paramilitary forces were moved out of the campus.
The court on Tuesday reprimanded the state government while dismissing its petition challenging the earlier direction by a single Judge Bench to withdraw the forces following the police baton charge on students and journalists on Sunday and Monday.
The court has taken a serious note of the incidents, especially the beating up of girl students by the police, switching off electricity supply, and firing of teargas shells in darkness.
While dealing with a petition of a television channel reporter who was assaulted by police, a single Judge Bench termed the state police “lawless” and remarked that even the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues were helpless in controlling the police.
“Perhaps it is time for Amnesty International to report on rights violations in the state,” observed Justice Narasimha Reddy while directing Joint Commissioner of Police P.S.R. Anjaneyulu to appear in person before him to answer his questions on handling the situation on the campus.
Scores of students and media persons were injured when police constables baton charged them on the campus during students’ protests over the demand for statehood to Telangana.
Meanwhile, Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy told the state assembly that investigations into the incidents were on and a report would be available in a week.
Making a statement in the house, she claimed that police resorted to baton charge when students, who were trying to take out a procession violating prohibitory orders, pelted stones injuring three policemen.
On the demand of opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to withdraw all cases against students and other protestors, she said the government would consider it after peace is restored.
She said the government and police had apprehensions that anti-social elements in the guise of students had entered the university.
She said the state witnessed disturbances over Telangana issue for 68 days during which 1,288 cases were registered and 5,000 people were arrested. “While 1,070 cases were booked in Telangana, 218 cases were registered in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions,” she said.
TDP deputy leader N. Janardhan Reddy wanted to know why the government has turned Osmania University into a police camp. He said though union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced on December 9 that all cases would be withdrawn, the state government had not taken any action.
Deputy Speaker N. Manohar abruptly adjourned the house till Thursday even as TDP legislators were protesting over the “unsatisfactory” statement by the Home Minister.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that the paramilitary forces were moved out of the campus.
The court on Tuesday reprimanded the state government while dismissing its petition challenging the earlier direction by a single Judge Bench to withdraw the forces following the police baton charge on students and journalists on Sunday and Monday.
The court has taken a serious note of the incidents, especially the beating up of girl students by the police, switching off electricity supply, and firing of teargas shells in darkness.
While dealing with a petition of a television channel reporter who was assaulted by police, a single Judge Bench termed the state police “lawless” and remarked that even the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues were helpless in controlling the police.
“Perhaps it is time for Amnesty International to report on rights violations in the state,” observed Justice Narasimha Reddy while directing Joint Commissioner of Police P.S.R. Anjaneyulu to appear in person before him to answer his questions on handling the situation on the campus.
Scores of students and media persons were injured when police constables baton charged them on the campus during students’ protests over the demand for statehood to Telangana.
Meanwhile, Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy told the state assembly that investigations into the incidents were on and a report would be available in a week.
Making a statement in the house, she claimed that police resorted to baton charge when students, who were trying to take out a procession violating prohibitory orders, pelted stones injuring three policemen.
On the demand of opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to withdraw all cases against students and other protestors, she said the government would consider it after peace is restored.
She said the government and police had apprehensions that anti-social elements in the guise of students had entered the university.
She said the state witnessed disturbances over Telangana issue for 68 days during which 1,288 cases were registered and 5,000 people were arrested. “While 1,070 cases were booked in Telangana, 218 cases were registered in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions,” she said.
TDP deputy leader N. Janardhan Reddy wanted to know why the government has turned Osmania University into a police camp. He said though union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced on December 9 that all cases would be withdrawn, the state government had not taken any action.
Deputy Speaker N. Manohar abruptly adjourned the house till Thursday even as TDP legislators were protesting over the “unsatisfactory” statement by the Home Minister.
