Accident, vandalism in Old Hyderabad areas keep cops on their toes

HYDERABAD: Two isolated incidents triggered tension in parts of the Old City on Wednesday night leading to police deploying forces in sensitive areas across the city on Thursday to check any flare-up of the situation.
In the first incident, a 21-year-old student was run over by an RTC bus at Syed Ali Chabutra in Shah Ali Banda triggering a violent protest by locals.An angry mob set a bus on fire and pelted stones at three other buses. The victim was identified as Fatima, a degree first year student and a resident of Engine Bowli in Faluknuma. She was crossing the road along with her brother Shaukatullah, when the accident took place around 10.30 pm. “The duo was shopping and wanted to cross the road to reach another shop when. Fatima was crushed under the wheels of the bus, while her brother escaped with injuries,’’ Shah Ali Banda inspector S Maheshwar said. The bus, which belonged to the Cantonment depot, was going from Chandrayangutta to Charminar.
Driver, Narahari, fled fearing for his life. It took some time for police to reach the spot to control the situation and by that time four buses were damaged. Security forces were deployed in large numbers. The protestors are yet to be arrested.
In the second incident, a place of worship in Puranapul was vandalised by unknown miscreants. Around 11.30 pm, Manoj Maharaj, priest of Samardh Nauchandi temple, populary known as Katamaisamma temple, visited the religious place and found the grill shutter open with the idols were damaged besides the agni kund. Surprisingly, a man was found on the ground inside the temple.
Immediately, Manoj alerted the temple management, who rushed to the spot. In the meantime, word spread about the alleged desecration. Over 500 people gathered near the temple, on the premises of which a religious structure of another community also exists. Temple authorities immediately rushed to the Hussainialam police station.
“Though people yelled repeatedly at the trespasser, who was inside the temple to get up and come out, there was no response. Later, the police came and took him out as he was unable to walk,'' T Narsing, a member of the temple management, told TOI.
Police suspect that Pairya was accompanied by a few others as two huge granite stones used to vandalise the property were found on the premises. Fearing that trouble might break out, police after midnight managed to bring the religious idols and pacified the authorities. All roads leading to the temple were blocked till early morning.
Police identified the trespasser as Pairya from Mahbubnagar district. He was found in an inebriated condition. “During verification, it came to light that he is a thief and several cases have been registered against him in the past. We are investigating whether anyone accompanied him in this offence,'' Hussainialam inspector A Balaji told TOI.