The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Police failure denied

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Police failure denied

Special Correspondent

Enough precautions were taken, says Jana Reddy

Procession stopped when it neared the place of worship
When prayers were over, the procession was stoned

HYDERABAD: Home Minister K. Jana Reddy has denied that communal flare-up at Bhainsa took place due to “intelligence failure” and inept handling by the police. He maintained that the police took enough precautions since the Durga procession and Friday prayers took place on the same day. Police stopped the procession when it neared the place of worship as the prayers were still on. But, when the prayers were over, the procession was stoned and there was retaliation.

“The police opened several rounds of fire into air to disperse the two warring groups,” the Minister asserted at a press conference here on Saturday.

Cooperation sought

Mr. Jana Reddy appealed to the religious leaders and communities not to fall prey to emotions, but extend cooperation in maintenance of law and order. There were some bad elements in society who, if encouraged, would become ISI agents and terrorists. The religious leaders, therefore, should condemn and isolate these elements and help the government in nipping them in the bud.

He said ex gratia would be paid to families of the victims only after verifying the background of the persons who died.

Four persons were arrested so far and their antecedents were being looked into. Asked to react on the MIM charge that violence was incited by a local TRS MLA, he said “our first priority is to establish peace”.

Mr. Reddy said political leaders were allowed to visit the riot-torn areas to ensure transparency in the matter. Four platoons, comprising 400 policemen, had been deployed in the town.

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