The Hindu : Front Page : Curfew in Old City of Hyderabad

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Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010
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Curfew in Old City of Hyderabad

Marri Ramu

HYDERABAD: An indefinite curfew was clamped in all areas of Old City here from Monday night after one person was stabbed to death and 17 others sustained injuries in communal violence.

Incidents of arson, group clashes and attacks on houses of different communities continued for the third consecutive day on Monday, even as a beleaguered city police force tried to bring the situation under control with the help of paramilitary forces.

In all, more than 60 persons were injured in the communal violence that began on Saturday night.

“There would be indefinite curfew in the 17 police station areas of the South Zone from 7 p.m. on Monday,” Commissioner of Police A.K. Khan said at a press conference.

Unabated violence was reported from Aliabad, Lal Darwaza, Gowlipura and Shahalibanda localities, beyond the historic Charminar.

The person who was stabbed to death was identified as an employee of the HDFC living in Jagatgirigutta. He, along with his colleague, was travelling in an office van, when mobs targeted the vehicle near Shahalibanda.

While the driver was beaten up severely, the victim was stabbed and he died on way to hospital. Another person was also stabbed near Shahalibanda.

Yet another knifing incident took place near the Pista House. They were being treated in the Osmania General Hospital

Attacks on religious places and houses were reported from most of the Old City areas just before curfew was enforced. Throughout the day, frenzied mobs of both the communities engaged the policemen in see-saw battles in the labyrinthine lanes and bylanes.

Home Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy, touring the troubled areas, assured the residents that all efforts would be made to restore normality. She met city legislators and sought their cooperation to restore peace.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah reviewed the situation with senior police officers.

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