Hyderabad: Police in Secunderabad resorted to lathi charge to disperse a mob as it tried to head towards a mosque to attack it in protest against the recent act of vandalism in a temple. The incident occurred at Muthyalamma Temple in Market Police Station limits.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and other groups had given a ‘bandh’ call on Saturday to protest against vandalism at the temple. According to police over 3,000 persons gathered from all over the city for a rally for which no permission was taken.
Deputy Commissioner of Police S. Rashmi Perumal said the gathering turned aggressive and split into two main groups with one group trying to proceed aggressively towards the local masjid in the area and the other moving towards Hotel Metropolis to vandalise its premises.
“Despite several attempts to defuse the situation, the unruly mob started calling for demolition of the mosque in the area and when the police resisted their attempts to move towards the mosque, the mob started pelting stones, sticks, water bottles, chappals and chairs on the police force present. This resulted in bleeding injuries to over 15 police personnel, including one ACP suffering cervical injuries and head injuries to one Inspector,” she said.
Locals and the temple management also tried to reason with the mob but to no avail. To take the situation under control in public interest, the police resorted to lathi charge. However, the crowd gathered again and kept instigating the situation towards further violence. Additional forces were then mobilised and after repeated talks they were dispersed from the temple area. But the mob then turned against the public transport buses moving on the road and damaged two RTC buses by stone pelting. Action is being taken against them, the DCP said.
She appealed to people to cooperate with the police and avoid rumour-mongering in public interest.
The act of vandalism at the temple took place early morning on October 14. According to police, the miscreant who entered the temple and damaged the idol two days ago hails from Maharashtra. He was identified as Salman Salim Thakur alias Salman, aged about 30 years, a native of Mumbra.
Police investigations revealed that he came to Hyderabad early this month to attend a month-long personality development workshop organized by English House Academy under the correspondence of Munawar Zama, Md. Kafeel Ahmed and others at Hotel Metropolis, Regimental Bazar, Secunderabad.
Police said when the accused resorted to vandalism, locals reached the spot, caught hold of him and thrashed him. Police reached the spot and shifted the accused to a hospital. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Market Police Station under Sections 333, 331(4), 196, 298, and 299 of BNS.
The police claim that Salman, a B.E Computer Engineering graduate, is active on social media. He became self-radicalized and developed a radical bent of mind and hatred. It was also revealed that the accused is involved in similar incidents in Mumbai, police said.
Police found that Hotel Metropolis premises were rented illegally for running the academic course which had no formal permission. The police sealed the hotel. However, Telangana High Court suspended the sealing of the hotel on a petition filed by its owner Abdul Rashid. He argued that the police are attempting to implicate him in a crime involving an individual.
