HYDERABAD: Responding to concerns raised by people regarding a police notification prohibiting gathering over five persons in public places, Hyderabad City Commissioner of Police (CP) CV Anand on Monday clarified that the ban “has nothing to do with the Deepavali festival celebrations”.
Asserting that it was not a curfew, he stated that the notification was issued based on intelligence reports that certain groups might try to disturb the peace and order in the city.
On Sunday, the city police released a notification stating that all kinds of gatherings of more than five persons - processions, dharnas, rallies or public meetings - which are likely to cause disturbance to the public peace and order in Hyderabad and Secunderabad are prohibited.
“Peaceful dharnas and protests are allowed only at Indira Park Dharna Chowk, and any protest anywhere else in Hyderabad and Secunderabad is not permitted,” read the notification signed by Anand. The order also specified that the prohibition would have been in force from October 27 till November 28.
Several people took to social media to register their opposition to the notification, stating that the ban, put in place during the festive season, might create an atmosphere of unease and discomfort. Few others questioned whether the ban was to challenge the people’s constitutional right to protest.
Meanwhile, the CP posted a clarification on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the prohibition did not pertain to Deepavali. “We have intelligence that certain groups are planning various forms of agitation, including surprise raids on the Secretariat, the CM’s residence, the DGP office, Raj Bhavan, and other locations. This notification is intended to provide legal backing for any police action needed to arrest or detain such individuals,” the top official said.
He also noted that such notifications are routinely circulated by the police all over the country depending on the need and asserted that this was not a curfew.