Hyd's old city remains tense as community groups clash afresh

The fresh incidents of stone pelting were reported from Siddiamber Bazar, Afzalgunj, Gowliguda, Begum Bazar, Kalapathar, Chatrinaka, Shah-Ali Banda, Puranapul among other areas even as police resorted to cane-charge to quell the mobs.

According to eye-witnesses, members of two communities indulged in heavy stone pelting after reports spread that a place of worship belonging to a particular community was stoned in Siddiamber locality this afternoon.

Platoons of Central para-military forces including RAF were rushed to the sensitive areas. The situation is now peaceful after incidents of stone pelting, a senior police officer told PTI, adding police resorted to caning only to disperse the clashing mobs and to check the spread of violence.

Senior police officers along with a large number of police personnel camped in the sensitive areas to avoid any untoward incidents further.
Shops and business establishments downed shutters after the incidents of stone pelting, though it was still not clear how many people were injured.

Earlier, tension prevailed in Husaini-Alam locality of old city well past midnight yesterday after clashes broke out between two stone-pelting groups, when members of a community wanted to erect religious flags near a place of worship which was objected by the other community.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who reviewed the law and order situation in the state capital in the aftermath of yesterday's violence, directed the police authorities to initiate necessary measures to control the situation.
The Chief Minister asked the police authorities to take all security measures in view of Hanuman Jayanti on March 30.

"Government will not tolerate any such act aimed at creating unrest or disturbance among the society," he warned.

He appealed all communities to cooperate with the government in view of the ongoing SSC public examinations and also wanted all political parties to extend their support to maintain law and order and communal harmony in the state.
Rosaiah asked Home Minister P Sabita Reddy to hold meeting with public representatives and authorities concerned and take their suggestions following last night's disturbances.
DGP R R Girish Kumar briefed the Chief Minister about the latest situation following today's incidents.