Hyderabad, June 16: Attack by alleged cow vigilantes on Muslims ahead of Eid al-Adha in Telangana’s Medak town has left at least seven people injured. A mob armed with sticks attacked shops and business establishments of Muslims on Saturday night after a clash when some cow vigilantes tried to seize cattle kept at a madrasa for sacrifice on Eid al-Adha.
The armed mob, which roamed the streets, included Medak district BJP president Gaddam Srinivas and other leaders of BJP, BJYM and other Sangh Parivar outfits.
The trouble broke out when a group of self-styled cow vigilantes barged into Minhaj ul Uloom Madrasa where cattle were kept for sacrifice.
Alleging that cows were brought for sacrifice, they created a ruckus. This led to a clash between two groups.
Later members of various Hindutva groups again reached the madrasa and attacked people present there. The injured were shifted to a hospital. The mob also attacked the hospital where the injured were being treated.
The mob also targeted shops and business establishments belonging to Muslims. The police intervened and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the mob.
Tension gripped the town and markets were shut.
Senior police officials rushed to the town. Additional forces were called from neighbouring districts.
After the violence, police intensified patrolling and posted pickets in communally sensitive areas.
Police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
Inspector General of Police A.V. Ranganath, who rushed to the town, appealed to people to cooperate with the police in maintaining peace. He warned that the miscreants disturbing peace and harmony will not be spared.
BJP Medak district president Gaddam Srinivas and BJP Medak town president M Nayam Prasad were among 10 persons arrested on Sunday by the police in connection with the violence.
The police officer said cow vigilantes with prior criminal backgrounds took the law into their own hands, leading to the problem. He said that if someone observes any wrongdoing, it should be reported to the police instead of individuals taking action themselves and creating further problems.
Earlier, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi spoke to Director General of Police Ravi Gupta and IG Ranganath over phone.
Four of the injured were shifted to Hyderabad and admitted to Princes Esra Hospital, a part of Owaisi Group of Hospitals. The injured said that the attack on madrasa and properties of Muslims was pre-planned.
Medak is one of the eight Lok Sabha seats won by the BJP in recent elections.
AIMIM MLA from Karwan constituency in Hyderabad, Kausar Mohiuddin, who called on the injured at Esra Hospital, said the party would ensure peace in Medak as well as quality treatment for all the injured irrespective of their religion.
Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjed Ullah Khan alleged that Medak police were mute spectators to attacks by RSS and BJP workers on Muslims and their property.
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Khan also alleged that ever since A. Revanth Reddy took charge as Chief Minister, communal elements were given free hand to attack Muslims and damage their property with police being mute spectators.
Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama said on Sunday that Telangana was peaceful sans any communal violence for the last 9.5 years. “Now in the Congress government, neither there is there any law nor any order. Truly shameful that even a peaceful town Medak which never had any communal activity in the past has now become a mess,” he posted on ‘X’.
