A plan to stage protest demonstration by some youngsters having potential to create trouble in the communally sensitive old city was called off in the last minute, following persuasion by police on Friday.
Furious over remarks made by a right wing leader from Uttar Pradesh, some youth from Kamatipura and other parts of old city decided to stage protest after the noon prayers on Friday.
Messages on WhatsApp
They started circulating messages through WhatsApp groups and other social websites to gather at the Wazir Ali mosque in Kamatipura in large number.
Taking the remarks made by Kamlesh Tiwari, who claims to be president of Hindu Mahasabha, against prophet Mohammed seriously, the youngsters planned to organise protest demonstration on a massive scale.
As the large gathering after Friday noon prayers coinciding with the Milad-un-Nabi rallies by different associations would throw security challenges, the police officials wanted to stop the protest programme anyhow.
The Kamatipura Inspector B. Ramesh monitored the messages being circulated and identified the persons planning the protest demonstration. With the help of local leaders and religious elders, he and the Charminar ACP Ashok Chakravarthy convened a meeting.
After conveying to the youngsters that demonstrations and other gatherings were already prohibited in the city, the police officers convinced them that protest programmes would disturb the peaceful atmosphere in old city.
“The youth initially refused to call off the demonstration but eventually agreed following persuasion,” Mr. Chakravarthy.
But some groups decided to go ahead with taking out rallies or staging sit-in on the road.
An attempt by Majlis Bachao Tehreek former corporator Khaled to stage protest programme was aborted by taking him and his supporters into preventive custody.
Published - December 19, 2015 12:00 am IST
