At least six persons, including two police officers, were injured in incidents of stone hurling and group clashes in Bholakpur in Musheerabad station limits in the wee hours of Thursday, forcing authorities to clamp prohibitory orders, roll out bundles of concertina wire to restrict people’s movement and step up patrolling. An incident of stabbing around 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday sparked the communal trouble, which escalated tension in sensitive areas all over the city. Two more stray incidents of violence were reported from other areas. In Mangalhat, a policeman’s two-wheeler was burnt and another vehicle was damaged by riotous mobs, while in Chilkalguda miscreants burnt a religious flag.
Seven persons allegedly involved in the violence and other suspects are being questioned, police claimed in a press release later. All the injured persons including Central Zone DCP Tarun Joshi are out of danger.
The genesis of Wednesday night’s trouble was an altercation in which a person herding a bull was stabbed at Muggu Basti near Kavadiguda. The assailants suspected that the man was taking it for slaughter. On coming to know about the attack, his relatives and people of his locality gathered at Musheerabad police station and protested.
Stones hurled
As they were dispersing after being assured of action, stones were hurled at a religious place and a pandal in front of it was damaged. That led to rumours spreading about religious places being attacked and people gathered in good numbers on roads. Soon there were several instances of stone pelting by slogan-shouting groups of different communities and police had to repeatedly use force to disperse them.
Chikkadpally ACP T. Chandrasekhar Reddy said 13 cases were booked against the members of two communities. “As of now, the situation is under control,” he explained.
