Hyderabad, March 29: Did the City police and its intelligence network failed to smell the impending communal trouble in the Old City? This question is arising after the violent clashes between people belonging to two different communities leading to widespread damage to property and injuries to several persons.
Though City Police Commissioner A K Khan himself suspected ‘organised attempt’ behind the trouble, no adequate steps were taken to prevent any flare up of yesterday’s clash between two groups at Moosabowli in the Old City.
According to police, SMSes were circulated by some persons inciting communal feeling and the subsequent attacks on places of worship, private property and also on people.
The same trend was seen when a mobile phone company came under attack by a political party during January, officials said.
“Just a few days back, clashes erupted in Madannapet over erecting religious flags. Yesterday’s incident should have been handled in a better way and forces should have been deployed at right places to prevent any flare up,’’ a police officer admitted.
The intelligence network too did not sense trouble even as clashes spread to other parts of the city by yesterday night itself.
“Had the intelligence agency alerted the police, adequate forces should have been rushed in,’’ the officer said.
Though tension prevailed in parts of the Old City from morning itself, it took time for the police officials to rush in additional forces.
The shortage of forces was admitted by Khan himself at a press conference.
Even as forces were present, though lesser in number, at some places like Gowliguda, they acted as a mute spectator when rival groups clashed and went on a spree of attacks on private property.
–Agencies