Curfew imposed in old Hyderabad

Hyderabad, April 8 (IANS) Police imposed curfew in some parts of the communally sensitive old city of Hyderabad Sunday following clashes between two groups.

The indefinite curfew was imposed in Madannapet and Saeedabad police station limits as tension mounted following the group clashes, police said.

The trouble began in the morning when two groups belonging to different communities clashed at Kurmaguda, after some pieces of an animal were found near a place of worship. Agitated over this, a group started pelting stones on shops and buses of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.

Ten shops and 20 buses were damaged in the stone pelting. Police used teargas shells and baton to dispel the clashing groups.

As the violence spread to adjoining Saeedabad and Champapet areas and group clashes continued in narrow lanes, the police imposed curfew and went on alert across the city.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan, who visited the riot-hit, told reporters that the curfew was imposed to bring the situation under control. He said two people were arrested in connection with the incidents.

The police chief warned the miscreants and appealed to people not to believe rumours and cooperate in maintaining peace.

Additional police forces including paramilitary personnel were deployed in the violence-hit areas. Police intensified patrolling in Charminar and surrounding areas as a precautionary measure.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy reviewed the situation with Director General of Police Dinesh Reddy. The state police chief has been directed to take all security measures to maintain law and order.