Hyderabad, April 02: Curfew or freedom. All the residents of Hyderabad and Secunderabad will have to choose either of these two on Friday.
For the first time in the history, the Hyderabad City Police will be allowing Friday prayers in curfew-bound areas. While there is still no clarity on how that would be done, unprecedented security arrangements are being made to ensure smooth conduct of prayers.
Besides over 10,000 personnel of Hyderabad City Police, as many as 31 companies of central forces including the Rapid Action Force, Central Reserve Police Force and the Central Industrial Security Force would be deployed in the curfew-bound areas.
In a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister Dr. K.Rosaiah on Thursday decided not to relax curfew, but directed police to make elaborate arrangements for the peaceful conduct of Friday prayers. It is believed that the police would allow Muslims to offer Friday prayers at local mosques. All roads leading to Mecca Masjid would be sealed and people living very close to the historic mosque would be allowed there.
Except for two hours on Thursday, areas under the limits of 17 police stations are under curfew since Monday night. Following violence, curfew was also clamped in eight other police station limits on Tuesday. The twin cities have remained peaceful since Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi met the DGP R.R.Girish Kumar and demanded that the curfew be relaxed for the Friday prayers. However, the request was later turned down by the Chief Minister, but he asked the police to make arrangements for prayers in consultation with religious leaders. According to sources, the Chief Minister spoke with the MIM leaders, Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi, and appealed them to cooperate with the police.
Later, Asaduddin Owaisi appealed the people to maintain peace. He said by showing restraint they could expose rivals who tried to spread the disturbances to newer areas, as was evident from the violence during the Tuesday’s procession. All other political parties too have requested the people to maintain peace. The Chief Minister also appealed to the people not to believe any rumours and baseless provocative SMSes.
Now the fate of Hyderabad is in the hands of its residents. If everyone show restraint and maintain peace, then the government may lift the curfew. Any slight provocation or small incident of violence will increase the sufferings of lakhs of people, belonging to all the communities, in curfew-bound areas, who are living with proper food and water for the last 80 hours.
-Agencies