10 companies brought; heavy security at Mecca Masjid

Hyderabad, Apr 2: Ten additional companies of para-military forces were brought and mounted and police deployed around the historic Mecca Masjid, which was virtually encircled, even as the Hyderabad police braced up for the crucial Friday prayers in the riot-hit old city area of Hyderabad today.With already 21 companies deployed in the 25 police stations in two zones, 17 in south and 8 in west, the Hyderabad police took no chance as it laid a two layer barbed wire security fencing on the desolate roads in various parts, particularly in the vicinity of Charminar.Working behind the scenes, the police and the state government rallied peace committees and talked to the religious leaders, leading to the clerics issuing fatwas, asking Muslims to offer their zohor (mid-noon prayers) either in their house or in the mosques in their localities rather than venture to the Mecca Masjid.Strict vigil was kept on the movement of persons with past rioting record even as police picked up more than 200 people and registered around 70 cases since the communal riot flared up on a flag issue five days back.The government had relaxed the curfew for two hours in two phases yesterday to enable the people to buy their provisions and advised them to store them for two days. However, traders kept the prices of provisions at an unviable rate, normally five times the market price, to make quick money.A few voluntary organisations today distributed packets of rice, oil, pulses and sugar but that was insufficient for the population of two and a half million in the old city area.
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