The Hindu : Old city violence: BJP blames police

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Old city violence: BJP blames police

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD June 7. The BJP has squarely blamed the police for the riots in parts of the old city on Friday following group clashes after the death of a youth at Mallepally the previous day.

The police did not take any precautionary measures during the funeral of the deceased knowing fully well there would be large congregations of Mulsims at mosques along the route. It was common sense that the emotions of the crowds would be fuelled over the death of a victim belonging to their community which could be manifested in violence, the BJP Legislature Party Leader, N. Indrasena Reddy, the MLAs, K. Laxman and Prem Singh Rathore, and senior leader, Baddam Bal Reddy, told newsmen here on Saturday.

They said the police should have identified trouble spots when the funeral procession passed and taken adequate precautionary measures. Leave alone taking these steps, even the police posted on the route remained passive spectators to the goingson. `The policemen took cover behind dustbins as stone throwing continued', they added.

They maintained that Hyderabad had a three-decade history of communal tensions but police did not seem to have learnt lessons from the past. The police should not have allowed the procession after Friday prayers at mosques going by experience.

Mr. Indrasena Reddy took exception to the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, visiting areas where there was a concentration of Muslim population. He did not visit the Digambar Jain temple or the houses of Hindus attacked in an adjoining locality.

Mr. Reddy said he along with other BJP leaders waited for Mr. Naidu at Agapura crossroads for four hours to explain to him the situation but he avoided them after having dropped a hint to visit the centre.

He also urged Mr. Naidu to take action against the erring police officials even before commencing the judicial probe into the incidents.

Mr. Bal Reddy said riots broke out despite his being assured in the morning by the city Police Commissioner about adequate security measures during the funeral.

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