Hyderabad, April 14: Mallikarjun (name changed) was busy preparing for his ongoing degree examinations when someone knocked on the door. Wondering who could be disturbing his studies, Mallikarjun opened the door, only to find men in khaki.
Surprised at the police visit, the 20-year old was even more stunned when he was ordered to get into the waiting jeep and driven straight to Musheerabad police station.
Like Mallikarjun, several youngsters are being allegedly picked up by policemen, detained in police stations and told to keep away from Hanuman Jayanthi celebrations on April 18.
Police refer this move as a ‘‘preventive measure.’’ It must be noted that last year, violence had broken out during the Hanuman Jayanthi procession and police say they are not ‘‘taking chances’’ this time.
However, many are crying foul over alleged threats from the police. “Before we were released, they told us to come back again on April 17, the day before Hanuman Jayanthi and stay at the station till the night of April 18,’’ said Mallikarjun.
Another 20-year-old had a similar tale to tell. “I am doing my graduation from a Osmania University-affiliated college. Presently, my exams are going on. But police are harassing me by repeatedly summoning to come to the police station where I am being made to sit for hours, as if I have committed a crime,’’ he alleged. He added the only ‘‘mistake’’ he did last year was coming out of his house on coming to know about the violence that broke out in Musheerabad. “But I am being summoned and made to sit with rowdy-sheeters and criminals,’’ he said.
Police sources say orders from higher-ups are very clear: ‘‘The gathering, in the procession has to be minimal and therefore take all measures.’’
Police officials said many youngsters are being bound over (give undertaking for good behaviour) at Hussainialam, Mangalhat, Charminar, Dabeerpura and Musheerabad police stations. Sources said all those persons picked up randomly after violence last year were being summoned to police stations and allegedly detained for several hours.
‘‘We are being threatened in case any trouble breaks out this time,’’ they said. Another development that came to light is that after police arrested some youngsters last year, whose families claimed they were innocent, their marriages had got cancelled and the girls’ families refused to give away their daughters in marriage to someone ‘‘who has been to jail.’’
Another youngster alleged if they were not turning up at the police station on their own, cops went to their house and took them away forcibly.
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad members told a press conference that permission was sought from city police for taking out a rally on occasion of Hanuman Jayanthi from Gowliguda to Tadbun Hanuman temple, Secunderabad.
‘‘But so far, there is no word from police officials and we feel permission will not be given,’’ VHP state secretary T Yaman Singh said.
He however said they will take out the rally irrespective of whether permission is given or not.
When asked about alleged harassment by policemen, Singh said that police should stop harassing innocents, especially students, who have nothing to do with last year’s violence.
On March 27, 2010, violence had erupted between two groups at Moosabowli, Old City over the issue of tying religious flags, which in turn led to a curfew.
–Agencies