The Hindu : Naidu orders judicial probe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 08, 2003

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Naidu orders judicial probe

By Marri Ramu

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, appeals for peace in the Old City area of Hyderabad on Sunday, following the killing of five persons in communal violence. — Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

HYDERABAD DEC. 7. The toll in the communal clashes in the Old City here on Saturday night rose to five as two more deaths, one in police firing and the other due to knife injuries, came to light on Sunday. The number of injured also increased to 31. With violence continuing unabated till the early hours of today despite heavy deployment of police forces, authorities clamped curfew in eight police stations areas of the Old City.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, who undertook a whirlwind tour of the affected areas in two spells in the morning, announced a judicial inquiry into the violence and arson. All the injured, 19 of whom sustained bullet injuries and others in stone throwing and knife attacks, are undergoing treatment at the Osmania General Hospital.

Large contingents of police forces pooled in from the adjoining districts were deployed in the riot-affected areas today. No fresh incidents of violence were reported till this evening. The situation was still tense but under control.

Even as Mr. Naidu assured that every measure was being taken to ensure peace during his second visit to the Old City, several residents of Mekalamandi, Sultan Shahi and Lal Darwaza, complained to him about the "police inaction" and sought protection to their lives and properties. They tried in vain to persuade him to examine each of the damaged houses. Condemning the riots, the Chief Minister appealed to all the communities to observe restraint.

Announcing several measures to check the clashes, including the setting up of floodlights and closed circuit televisions at sensitive areas and an Integrated Call Centre to pass on messages to all departments, Mr. Naidu instructed the authorities to shift the four seriously injured persons to the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) from the Osmania General Hospital. With curfew orders in force, gun-toting and lathi-wielding policemen took control of the entire Old City. Pickets were posted at all sensitive and strategic points.

Curfew till Monday

The Hyderabad Police Commissioner, R.P. Singh, said the curfew would be in force at least till Monday evening. A decision on curfew relaxation would be taken after reviewing the situation from time to time, he said. Stating that the violence appeared to be planned, Mr. Singh told presspersons that efforts were on to identify the culprits who set fire to electric transformers before raiding the houses. "We will sternly deal with the accused. There is no question of showing any favouritism."

The Additional Commissioner of Police, A.K. Khan, said that a special team, headed by the Detective Department DCP, was constituted to identify the accused. "We have got clues and have taken into custody some suspects."

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