In Hyderabad, two groups pelt stones at one another over demolition of shop

india

Updated: May 06, 2019 10:17 IST

Timely intervention of the police prevented major clashes between two communities over construction of a disputed structure at Amberpet in Hyderabad on Sunday night.

The police took BJP MLA T Raja Singh into custody and released him in the early hours of Monday, as he tried to lead a protest by the party workers, after the two groups indulged in stone pelting at each other causing injuries to seven persons, including two policemen.

Hyderabad city police commissioner Anjani Kumar rushed to the area along with a large contingent of police to bring the situation under control.

It all began with the officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation authorities pulling down a shop a few days ago as part of road widening for construction of a flyover.

The authorities have also claimed to have paid Rs 2.4 crore to the shop owner as compensation for the demolition of the shop. However, the local community leaders have been arguing that there was a 400-year old religious structure belonging to Wakf Board near the demolished property.

On Sunday evening, they tried to erect a make-shift shed there and started praying. This led to protests from locals belonging to the other community who argued that there was no religious structure there and the adjacent area was a government property.

Some locals reached the site to register their protest. This led to a heated argument between two communities and soon flared up into a clash, as they indulged in stone pelting at each other. The Ramanthapur police tried to control the warring groups and more police personnel were called in to control the situation.

“We have divided the entire area into four sectors and posted police forces in all the sensitive spots. I appeal to the people not to believe in any rumours,” Anjani Kumar said.

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) general secretary and Yakutpura MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri visited the disputed place on Sunday evening.