Widespread protest against BJP MLA for Prophet’s remarks; Police instructed to close the business till 8 pm
Widespread protest against BJP MLA for Prophet’s remarks; Police instructed to close the business till 8 pm
Protests against suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T. Raja Singh’s objectionable remarks against Prophet Muhammad continued, albeit intermittently, as they began late Monday night, prompting police to clear shops and commercial establishments in the old city. instructed to close. Until 8 pm on Wednesday nights.
In the mood to take a risk with the law and order situation in the city, the police made announcements on the public address system in the evening. As dusk approached, the police started intensive patrolling on the streets and urged people to close their shops and go home. This practice was seen at several other places including Mughalpura near Volta Hotel and Kotla Alijah. By 8 pm most of the shops were closed. Police barricades and pickets were put up at various places in the old city.
The incident of stone pelting was witnessed in Shalibanda at around 9.45 pm. This led to heavy barricading in the area. Even as protesters appeared in phases in Shaliband throughout Wednesday, the police detained over 100 people. The protests prompted men in uniform to change roadways in the old town.
Posters condemning suspended BJP MLA T. Raja Singh are spread across the Old City area. , Photo credit: Ramakrishna G.
Even as protesters appeared in phases in Shaliband throughout Wednesday, the police detained around 100 people. The protests prompted men in uniform to change roadways in the old town.
Amid a significant increase in constabulary across the city, police at first urged angry, slogan-shouting youths to go home, but later started using force – they lathi-charged people to disperse them.
Soon after Mr Singh was released from police custody, members of the public began to show their displeasure. Late Tuesday night, people barged into the Charminar and started raising slogans demanding death penalty for the Goshamahal MLA. A while back, protests were witnessed in Chandrayangutta, Misriganj and Malakpet, where hundreds of youth took to the streets. Dozens of people entered the Amberpet police station demanding Mr. Singh’s arrest.
The burning of the MLA’s effigy continued till the early hours in many parts of the old city. Despite efforts to disperse them, the protesters, some carrying black flags and others holding the tricolour, returned.
As the night progressed, the protesters came to Shalibanda crossroads and were seen near Charminar, Gulzar Hauz and Vattapalli. Youths riding motorcycles were seen shouting slogans all over the Old City.
At around one o’clock in the night, the roads near Allah Masjid in Shaliband were bursting at seams with youths. Despite the request of the police, the youths raised slogans and refused to move.
A small section of the protesters turned into a mob and resorted to violence and damaged two police vehicles. A taxi was also attacked and damaged. The police lathi-charged them to disperse them.
In an effort to pacify the protesters, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA Ahmed Balala arrived at the scene at around 2.45 pm, then tried to reason with him, but the protesters heeded his call for peace. refused.
Amid loud sloganeering, Mr Ballala spoke to senior police officials and demanded that the Preventive Detention Act be invoked against the BJP MLA and assured him.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) P. Sai Chaitanya was on the spot. Speaking to the media, he said that Mr Singh’s intentions and statements against Prophet Muhammad were inappropriate and wrong. He said that he sympathizes with the peaceful protesters and urged them not to indulge in any violence.
Mr Chaitanya also said that the Hyderabad City Police has taken Mr Singh’s objectionable statements and ensuing reactions as “arrogance” and will take all possible measures to put him behind the bars.
Additional Commissioner of Police DS Chauhan and other senior officers patiently urged the men to exercise restraint.
Tension was also brewing near the house of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Laddu Yadav, who alleged that unidentified men broke into his neighborhood and tore banners. Mr Yadav was recently arrested for using unparliamentary language against AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi.
In a separate incident, unconfirmed information was being circulated that two youths were assaulted.