Hyderabad, Sep 4: Communal violence broke out in Jainoor town in Telangana’s Komaram Bheem Asifabad district today after some groups protesting over the sexual assault on a tribal woman attacked a mosque and set afire shops belonging to Muslims.
The protestors attacked Jamia Masjid and torched shops and vehicles belonging to Muslims. Following the incident, police rushed additional forces to the town and imposed prohibitory orders, banning the assembly of five or more persons.
The violence broke out during a bandh called by some tribal group over an incident in which an autorickshaw driver tried to rape a tribal woman. Though police arrested accused Sheikh Maqdoom on charges of molestation and attempt to murder, some miscreants took law into their hands and targeted the properties of Muslims. Police said the administration had spoken to both communities to ensure that Bandh is held in a responsible manner but suddenly situation turned into conflict between two communities.
“Adivasis started attacking properties of other community and there was retaliation from other community too leading to arson, pelting stones, damage of properties, etc.,” said a statement from the office of the Director General of Police.
The District Superintendent of Police with his team rushed to the town tried his best to control the situation with additional forces from neighboring Adilabad, Mancherial, Sircila and Jagtial Districts and Telangana Special Police platoons. SPs/ DCP of neighboring districts also joined in controlling of the situation, police said. More than 1000 police personnel have been deployed to bring the situation under control. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is also being deployed.
DGP Telangana and Additional Director General (Law & order), Inspector General of Police North Zone were constantly monitoring the situation. Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC /163 BNSS have been issued by district administration. Police also imposed ban on Internet as a precautionary measure to avoid spread of rumours and fake news. Special teams have been formed and Investigations in incidents of arson and violence has started to identify offenders and strict action will be taken against them as per law, the police said. Police have appealed both communities to maintain restraint as the accused has been already arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
Medical treatment of the victim is going on in Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad and all treatment expenses is being borne by the administration. Victim compensation of Rs. one lakh has already been given to the victim, the police added.
The autorickshaw driver had attempted to rape the woman on August 31 when she was going to a nearby village in his vehicle. As the woman raised an alarm, the autorickshaw driver hit her on the head with a heavy object. As she fell unconscious, he escaped after leaving her on the road.
Some passersby presumed it to be an accident and shifted the woman to a hospital. She was later taken to RIMS Hospital in Adilabad. The woman, who regained consciousness the next day, narrated the incident to the family members. They lodged a complaint with the local police and the accused was arrested. Some tribal organisations staged protests in the town and demanded capital punishment for the accused.
On learning about the violence, AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi spoke to Director General of Police Jitender and demanded that the police deal firmly with those taking law into their hands. Owaisi said the DGP assured him that he was monitoring the situation and sending additional forces to the town.
The MP appealed for peace. He urged the state government not to allow anyone to take law into their hands. “We demand that police take action and arrest all those who are indulging in violence. The rule of law should prevail,” he said.
Owaisi again spoke to DGP and requested that police safely evacuate children of Gulshan High School and a Madrasa stuck there following the violence in Jainoor. He took to ‘X’ to thank DGP after the students were safely evacuated. He also thanked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s secretary and Indian Police Service (IPS) office Shahnawaz Qasim. Owaisi requested him to close monitor the situation.
Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjed Ullah Khan demanded stringent action against those involved in violence. He alleged that police failed to take preventive measures to prevent violence. He claimed that it was 19th communal incident since Congress came to power in the state eight months ago. He questioned the inaction and silence of Congress party and said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks only when such incidents happen in BJP-ruled states.
