Indefinite curfew was clamped in all areas of Old City here from Monday night after one person was stabbed to death and 17 others sustained injuries in a sudden flare up of communal violence.
Incidents of arson, group clashes and attacks on houses of different communities continued for the third consecutive day on Monday, even as a beleaguered city police force tried to take the situation under control with the help of paramilitary forces.
Three persons were being treated for knife wounds in the Osmania General Hospital. Others sustained wounds in attacks and stone-throwing. In all, more than 60 persons were injured in the communal flare-up that continued from Saturday night.
“There would be indefinite curfew in all 17 police station areas of the South Zone from 7 p.m. on Monday,” Commissioner of Police A.K. Khan said.
Violence was reported from several sensitive areas. Unabated violence was reported from Aliabad, Lal Darwaza, Gowlipura and Shahalibanda localities, beyond the historic Charminar.
The riot victim was identified as an employee of the HDFC and was a resident of Jagatgirigutta. He, along with his colleague, was travelling in an office van, when mobs targeted the vehicle near Shahalibanda. While the driver was beaten up severely, the victim was stabbed and he died on way to hospital. Another person was also stabbed near Shahalibanda, while the third knifing incident took place near Pista House.
Attacks on religious places and houses were reported from most of the Old City areas just before curfew was to be enforced. Throughout the day, frenzied mobs of both the communities engaged the policemen in see-saw battles in the labyrinthine lanes and bylanes.
Home Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy toured the troubled areas and assured residents that no effort would be spared to restore normality.
Chief Minister K. Rosaiah reviewed the situation.
