Hyderabad: Though most of the old city remained calm on Babri Masjid demolition anniversary, tension mounted in Moghalpura on Saturday afternoon, when protesters came out on to the streets to observe ‘Black Day’. However, the police foiled their attempts to create trouble and took them into preventive custody. Police said around 20 Darsgah Jihad-o-Shahat (DJS) activists were arrested near DJS office.
Meanwhile, confusion prevailed for a few hours when the police arrested a person at Falaknuma while he was moving around with a knife. However, later the police clarified that the person had nothing to do with the Black Day protest, and that it was a small utility knife. Officials said they are still interrogating the person.
South Zone DCP, Satyanarayana said, the day passed off peacefully without any violent incidents.
Muslim organisations had called for a black day to mark the 22nd anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Almost all shops, business establishments and educational institutions in the old city remained closed. The Charminar area wore a deserted look with all the markets around the monument closed till evening. The impact was less in other parts of the city as most shops were open.
The police and paramilitary forces had made elaborate security arrangements in sensitive areas. A large police force was present in most of areas of the old city. Senior officials, including Hyderabad police commissioner, M. Mahender Reddy visited the old city and monitored security arrangements.
Majlis Bachao Tehreek leaders submitted a memorandum to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, demanding reconstruction of the Babri Masjid at its original site in Ayodhya.
