Curfew-like situation in old Hyderabad

The situation in the old city of Hyderabad continued to be tense Monday with sporadic incidents of stone pelting. A curfew-like situation prevailed around the historic Charminar.

The construction of a canopy over a temple abutting the monument Sunday sparked trouble leading to withdrawal of support by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) to the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in New Delhi.

The 400-year-old monument and the usually busy markets around it were deserted with armed police barricades visible in the entire area. Residents in localities surrounding the heritage monument were facing severe inconvenience as police prevented them from coming out of their houses.

Policemen and personnel from paramilitary forces remained deployed at Charminar and surrounding areas. The police arrested Hindu religious leader Swami Paripoornananda and some BJP leaders proceeding to Bhagyalakshmi temple abutting Charminar. The Swami was later released and the police escorted him to the temple. Deputy Commissioner of Police Akun Sabharwal said the situation remained peaceful and appealed to people not to believe rumours.

Meanwhile, Road Transport Corporation (RTC) suspended all its bus services, with RTC officials saying that the cancellation of 157 services was done as a precautionary measure. All schools and colleges in the old city declared a holiday.

Trouble broke out in Aghapura area outside the old city when some MIM activists coming out of the party headquarters pelted stones, damaging a few vehicles. Also, the vehicle of a television channel was also targeted, following which police resorted to baton charge and dispersed the mob. The incident took place after MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi addressed a press conference on Monday afternoon. Later, Owaisi came out of the party office and persuaded hundreds of party supporters to return home.

Earlier, on Sunday, MIM legislators were arrested from Charminar after they protested the erection of a canopy on the temple structure, which they alleged violated the court orders to maintain the status quo at the temple. However, police commissioner Anurag Sharma on Sunday night clarified that the temple committee had been allowed to cover the structure with tarpaulin sheets after Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said the structure had the covers as on October 30.