Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Eight injured in police firing

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD DEC. 6. At least eight persons were injured when police opened fire to quell riotous mobs indulging in heavy stone-pelting at several localities of the communally-sensitive old city areas on Saturday night. More than six persons were injured in the stoning.

As tension escalated in different areas, a house was set on fire in the Kabeli Kaman locality around midnight, while police patrol teams came under attack from belligerent mobs which hurled petrol bombs and stones.

With rumours flying thick and fast about an outbreak of communal riots, heavy police contingents were being moved to all the sensitive areas of the old city, even as violence spread to different areas.

The injured have been taken to the Osmania General Hospital where the condition of two persons who suffered bullet wounds, is stated to be critical. Agitated crowds belonging to different communities were swelling at the hospital and the Commercial Taxes Minister, K. Vijayarama Rao, who rushed to the hospital was mobbed by the incensed crowds.

Workers of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) too gathered at the place and were resorting to slogan-shouting.

The old city observed a peaceful bandh during the day to mark the anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid, but trouble erupted late in the night when people of different communities gathered near the Mir Ka Dayara locality fearing attacks by the other side.

As tension mounted, mobs resorted to heavy stone-pelting and the police which rushed there became the target of everyone.

As stoning continued, police opened fire at different places and as the injured persons were brought to the Osmania General Hospital rumours of communal riots spread. So frightened were the late night commuters that they stopped their vehicles at the Charminar police station and refused to go further demanding police protection.

Even the media personnel who rushed to old city were being prevented by local people from venturing further.

According to police sources, trouble was reported in Talab Katta, Moghalpura, Mir Ka Dayara and Gowlipura localities and then spread to Chandrayangutta and Aliabad localities by midnight.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Eight injured in police firing
• CBI arrests its officer on bribery charges
• FFW `irregularities': Minister taken aback
• People's War ready for `political battle'
• Congress faces rout in State: Dattateya
• Move for World Bank loan questioned
• Naxals blast TDP leader's house
• High drama marks arrest of CBI official
• Revolving funds for DWCRA groups urged
• Congress meet hints at subsidy raj

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu