Communal clashes rock in Hyderabad

The communal clashes Sunday spread to more areas in the old city of Hyderabad as police clamped ban on gathering of five or more people and deployed additional forces to bring the situation under control.

Police fired shots in the air to disperse clashing groups in Kalapatthar area after a baton charge failed to bring the situation under control while mobs took to streets in Lal Darwaza and Shahali Banda areas Sunday evening, pelting stones and attacking vehicles.

At least 30 people were injured in sporadic violence. Several places of worship and a goshala (cattle shelter) were targeted by rioters.

Trouble on Sunday began at about 11am when police prevented Andhra BJP president and Himayatnagar MLA G Kishan Reddy and Baddam Bal Reddy from visiting Peepal Hanuman temple in Moosabowli, where clashes took place on Saturday night.

The two communities by and large live in peace and harmony in the city, which has not seen any major communal riot for two decades.