HYDERABAD, 14 October — Opposition parties barring the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have slammed Friday’s police action against anti-US protesters and demanded punishment for policemen for alleged desecration of the Makkah Mosque in the city’s old quarters.
Nearly 75 people, including mostly policemen, were injured when Muslims protesting against US attacks on Afghanistan fought street battles with the police after the latter stopped them from marching toward Charminar, the city’s landmark structure.
The protesters were mostly young people who shouted "Allah-o-Akbar" and "America Murdabad" (Death to America) and marched the streets in a spontaneous surge of anti-US sentiments after the Friday prayers at the Makkah Mosque.
The police burst tear gas shells and baton-charged the stone-pelting protesters. It also lobbed a few shells in the courtyard of the mosque to flush out people who had trooped back after the onslaught.
The opposition parties led by the Congress party and the Communist Party of India (CPI) alleged that policemen, including the personnel of Rapid Action Force (RAF), a riot police set-up, stormed the mosque and mercilessly beat up people there.
They said the policemen were wearing shoes when they stormed the prayer hall.
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President Muhammad Ali Shabbir led a party delegation to the mosque and blamed the police for whatever happened on Friday. He alleged that the police had beaten up every person they could lay their hands on inside the prayer hall.
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), a Muslim political party, assailed the police for entering the mosque, and drew parallels with the alleged brutalities by Israel against Palestinians.
MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and four party legislators condemned the police action and warned that Muslims would not tolerate desecration of the mosque.
City police chief P. Ramulu, however, defended the police entry into the mosque, saying the police had no option as miscreants had retreated to the mosque after pelting policemen with stones.
Director-general of police H.J. Dora also visited Charminar and surrounding areas. He appealed to Muslims to maintain the sanctity of 400-year-old historic Makkah Mosque.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting on Friday night. He appealed to people to observe restraint and not to get carried away by baseless rumors.
Naidu expressed concern over the violence and appealed to the people to help the police identify criminals.
Two youth, who received bullet injuries, are undergoing treatment at Owaisi Hospital, run by MIM president and lawmaker Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi.
Police have arrested 10 people in connection with the Friday incidents and looking for more people who participated in the violence.
The entire episode has been recorded through video cameras installed on top of Charminar.
