HYDERABAD: The Old city of Hyderabad was nothing short of a fortress on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Mecca Masjid blasts on Thursday. Prayers went on peacefully amidst tight security. Considering the sensitive nature of the occasion, armed check points were set up at all important roads and major junctions.
As usual, the believers thronged Mecca Masjid around 5.30 am, 1 pm and 5 pm today and offered prayers. Higher police officials were posted at Mecca Masjid in monitoring the situations till prayers were over.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), CCS, Avinash Mohanty, who is In-Charge of sensitive Saidabad and Madanapet police limits said that there were no single untoward incidents reported from the city.
“We have taken all kinds of security measures and kept close vigil on various sensitive localities in Madanapet and Saidabad where a number of sensitive places are located in two police limits. The situation was peaceful in such localities,” the DCP said.
Rapid Action Forces were deployed at Charminar apart from law and order police. However, general public and tourists were also allowed to visit the historic monument, Charminar.
The Additional Commissioner of Police, Crime Central Crime Station (CCS), Swati Lakra, who was in-Charge of South Zone for the day, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), West Zone, A Venkateswar Rao and Additional DCP, South Zone, K Babu Rao have visited the Mecca Masjid and its surroundings as part of monitoring security.
Additional DCP K Babu Rao said that they had taken all precautionary measures possible and around 300 police forces had been deployed in South Zone to prevent untoward incidents.
“Prayers and regular activity in the old city went on peacefully. In view of prayers to be continued till late night, security at Charminar and Mecca Masjid localities till late night. A team of police officials also monitored the situation with CCTVs, sitting in the control room,’’ Babu Rao said.
On May 18, 2007, members of the Hindu militant outfit Abhinav Bharat allegedly planted two bombs inside the Mecca Masjid. In the blasts, nine persons died on the spot and five others were killed in police firing after mob flared up communal tension.
Swami Aseemanand, an accused, who was lodged in prison in the city, was granted bail in connection with the case and released recently.