Babri anniversary passes off peacefully

Barring a few demonstrations by different groups, the 23rd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition passed off peacefully amidst heavy police presence in the city on Sunday.

Elaborate security arrangements were made across the city, including the communally sensitive old city areas. Contingents of Rapid Action Force, Task Force, Telangana State Special Police and civil police were posted at all vulnerable spots in the twin cities.

Markets across old city were shut following a bandh call given by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Majlis Bachao Tehreek and few other organisations.

Till afternoon, the Madina building, Pathergatti and Charminar road sported a deserted look.

sHowever, in the afternoon few roadside shops opened much to the delight of hundreds of tourists who dropped in for sightseeing.

Around 20 activists of the Darsgah-Jihad-o-Shahadat were taken into custody by the police at Darulshifa when they took out a rally demanding reconstruction of Babri Masjid.

They were later shifted to Kanchanbagh police station and released in the evening. Senior police officials, including Swati Lakra, Additional Commissioner of Police (crimes), camped at the Charminar police station reviewed the situation regularly.

“The day passed off peacefully. No untoward incident was reported. The police pickets and patrolling will continue till Monday. After reviewing the situation, we will decide whether to continue the bandobast,” DCP (south) V. Satyanarayana said.

In Osmania University, students belonging to a various organisations took out a rally demanding punishment to those involved in the demolition of the mosque. They burned an effigy of the saffron organisations and dispersed.

At Indira Park, an all-party dharna was held in which Moulana Naseerudddin, president of Wahadat-e-Islami, Majlis Bachao Tehreek leader Amjedullah Khan and other leaders participated.

Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: Registering their protest over the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, leaders of minority community organised a rally in the district headquarters on Sunday.

The rally was held from Nalsabgadda to old bus stand. Later, they submitted a memorandum to District Revenue Officer Dayanand.