Stray incidents of violence in old city

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 6. The otherwise peaceful atmosphere in the old city areas was marred after a large group of youngsters resorted to heavy stone- throwing at the police, who stood guard outside the Mecca Masjid, near Charminar, on Wednesday afternoon.

Though none was injured in the stone-pelting, the passersby ran helter skelter even as the surprised police contingents scurried to cover. A press photographer who was shooting pictures outside the Mecca Masjid was assaulted and the windscreens of two autorickshaws were broken by the mob which rushed out of the mosque, raising slogans after the noon prayers.

Old city observed a complete bandh in response to a call given by different organisations demanding reconstruction of the mosque in Ayodhya. Meanwhile, a well-attended procession, organised by the Darsgah Jihad-e-Shadat (DJS) from DBR Mills to Indira park, passed off peacefully.

The situation in the old city was absolutely normal though policemen in riot gear took up positions at all vulnerable points. None had anticipated any trouble and the police were to a large extent relaxed. Bus services passing through the Charminar route were suspended as a precautionary measure and, with almost all the shops being closed, there was not much traffic in old city also.

However, the situation became surcharged within moments as a large group of youngsters raised slogans from inside the mosque after the conclusion of prayers. Even as the surprised police contingents watched, the crowd rushed out of the mosque towards the Charminar. The police hurriedly put up barbed wire barricades and policemen took up positions to prevent the mob from rushing ahead.

After some ten minutes, the crowd began dispersing and the police literally heaved a sigh of relief. But their relief was only shortlived as the mob filed into the mosque again. Stone-pelting began from inside the mosque. Repeated requests made over megaphones pleading for a peaceful dispersal fell on deaf ears and the showering of stones continued for well over a quarter hour. Subsequently, the youngsters came out of the mosque on their own and dispersed.

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Section  : Southern States
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