HYDERABAD: Mecca Masjid blast anniversary passed off peacefully in the Old city of Hyderabad on Monday. The eighth anniversary of the blast had created enough concerns in the minds of all, considering the recent encounter killing of Tehreek Galba-e-Islam (TGI) founder Viqaruddin Ahmed and his four associates.
Viqar, arrested by the Hyderabad police in 2010, was allegedly responsible for the killing of three policemen on the anniversary of the blast in 2009 and 2010, to ’avenge’ the police firing on Muslim youths in the immediate aftermath of the Mecca Masjid blast in May 2007 in Hyderabad.
Armed pickets were posted at communally- sensitive points at Charminar, Shalibanda, Shamsheergunj and areas surrounding Saidabad. Contingents of Rapid Action Force and the Telangana Special Police had already been deployed at vulnerable points.
“Apart from deploying sufficient forces, keeping in view of the previous incidents, we also met with local leaders to keep the youth from causing any untoward incidents,” V Satyanarayana, DCP, south zone, said.
Viqaruddin and his gang members had opened fire at a police constable and a Home Guard at Falaknuma in 2009, killing the latter.