Hyderabad, April 07: As he drove down to the Badi Masjid (Jama masjid) in Barkas around noon, with only his driver sitting next to him, many were taken aback.
”Asad bhai aaj yahan ?” many wondered.
Normally, MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi is known to offer Friday prayers either at Mecca Masjid, Wazir Ali Khan Masjid at Kamatipura or Chowk-ki-Masjid near Lad Bazar.
But on Friday, a week after his brother and Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi was brutally attacked in Barkas, the senior Owaisi, in what is being described as rare, chose to offer noon prayers at Jama Masjid in the same locality, a move, highly placed sources said, was aimed at gaining confidence of the people, particularly those residing in Barkas and sending across a message that all is well. About 3,000 Namazis were present at Jama Masjid.
Though tension was in the air around Mecca Masjid with heavy police deployment there and also across purana shahar since morning, Asaduddin’s presence in Barkas did raise many eyebrows and for some time, it even gave some tense moments to the policemen. MIM supporters offered special prayers at several mosques for the speedy recovery of Akbaruddin Owaisi.
Sources told Express that soon after offering prayers at Badi masjid, Asaduddin went around the area driving his four-wheeler himself. His first stop was at the house of Mohsin Kaseri, an MIM worker, who was injured along with Akbaruddin last Saturday. After spending sometime with the family, the senior Owaisi drove down to the spot in Barkas where his brother was attacked and had a brief discussions with the locals.
Asad then went around the hotel and shaadikhana belonging to Muhammed Pahelwan, accused in Akbar’s attack, which were damaged by angry youth.
Later, Asaduddin visited Owaisi hospital where five MIM workers including Akbar’s driver and others were undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, the condition of Akbaruddin Owaisi showed further improvement and he is not on any support systems any more.
”His organ functions are gradually improving and he has been mobilised out of bed,” Dr A Rampapa Rao, medical director, Care Hospital said.
CCS sleuths to quiz Akbaruddin
HYDERABAD: Central Crime Station (CCS) sleuths will quiz Akbaruddin Owaisi in the next few days, once he recovers fully. “We have to take his version. Even the video footage taken at the time of attack is not clear and therefore we need to take Akbaruddin’s version.
His statement has to be recorded,’’ sources told Express. Asked whether Akbaruddin was carrying his licenced weapon at the time of attack, sources associated with the investigation said that so far, there is no evidence to indicate that he too was armed.
–Agencies