Curfew continues in old Hyderabad

Hyderabad, April 9 (IANS) The situation remained peaceful in riot-hit parts of the old city of Hyderabad Monday while the indefinite curfew continued for the second day, police said.

According to police, no untoward incident took place overnight in any part of the communally sensitive old city, where alleged desecration of a place of worship triggered group clashes Sunday.

The indefinite curfew continued in Madannapet and Saidabad police station limits of East Zone. A police officer said a decision on relaxation or lifting of curfew would be taken later in the day after a review of the situation.

The trouble began Sunday morning when two groups belonging to different communities clashed at Kurmaguda, after some pieces of an animal were found near a place of worship in Madannapet. Agitated over this, a mob attacked houses, shops and vehicles.

About 12 people were injured in stabbing, stone pelting and clashes Sunday.

With the violence spreading to other areas and the situation slipping out of control, the police imposed curfew.

Students attending class 10 and other examinations have been exempted from the curfew. The police announced that the hall tickets of the students would be treated as curfew passes and each student would be allowed to be escorted by one elder.

All exam centres in the curfew-bound areas are functioning amid tight security.

Meanwhile, police continued to keep a tight vigil in the sensitive areas around the historic Charminar. Patrolling has been intensified and security has been stepped up around places of worship.