HYDERABAD: With inputs suggesting that some groups are bent upon disturbing peace in the city, tight security arrangements have been made for Friday prayers in the Old City in the aftermath of the Madannapet riots last Sunday.
However, curfew will be relaxed again in Saidabad and Madannapet from 9 am to 5 pm Friday to enable people to buy groceries and other essentials, and police are likely to temporarily lift Section 144 in 15 police station limits to enable Muslims to offer Friday prayers.
Senior police officials told Express they have been receiving inputs from various sources that some groups are out to create disturbances. "We are taking precautions from tonight itself because even a minor incident late in the night will have a bearing on the Friday prayers tomorrow. All religious places including dargahs are being kept under vigil and patrolling is being intensified from tonight itself,’’an officer said.
"Bandobust will be tight tomorrow,’’ DCP (South Zone) Manish Kumar Sinha told Express. He said senior officers will camp in the Old City, and hundreds of men from the state police, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Reserve Police Force will take up positions in sensitive localities by late Thursday night. More than 1,000 trainee sub-inspectors are being drafted for the vigil. Security at Mecca Masjid will be tight.
Meanwhile, mischief mongers tried to incite trouble at another place of worship at Charminar on Thursday by throwing pieces of meat inside its precinct. However, before tensions could escalate, policemen cleaned up the place and the day passed without any untoward incident.
In Saidabad and Madannapet, markets bustled during curfew relaxation from 9 am to 5 pm. APSRTC ran its regular services to and from the Chanchalguda prison and Madannapet.
Shops and business establishments opened on the dot at 9 am. Paramilitary troopers kept vigil at all the street corners.