Hyderabad: Facing a series of cases for the violent incidents of Tuesday, MIM leaders on Wednesday claimed that they were trying to stop the crowd from attacking others.
While MIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi retweeted a tweet stating the videos clearly showed that he was trying to stop attackers, his party leader Shahbaz Ahmed Khan accused Congress leaders of violating the poll code by straying into the Old City in a convoy.
MIM leaders also filed counter-complaints against Congress candidate Mohd. Ghouse and Deputy Chief Minister Mohd. Mahmood Ali’s son Azam Ali and others, alleging that they were the assaulters and MIM leaders the victims.
“They were not one-sided attacks. In each incident, they (the other group) had provoked and tried to attack our party workers. Congress leaders came here with the sole purpose of provoking MIM workers,” said Mr Ahmed Khan, a polling in-charge of the MIM.
Read: GHMC poll violence: Cops book Owaisi brothers
Charminar MLA Ahmed Pasha Quadri lodged a complaint with South Zone DCP V. Satyanarayana accusing Mr Ghouse of attacking one of his aides and a local TV channel reporter.
A local leader lodged a counter complaint in Malakpet police station against Mr Azam Ali.
Senior police officials said that all complaints filed by the MIM leaders are being looked into.
Shabbir attacker brags, held
The 22-year-old youth who allegedly attacked Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir was arrested by South Zone police on Wednesday.
Soon after the attack on Tuesday evening, Syed Abdahu Kashaf commented on Mr Shabbir’s Facebook page, abusing him and warning him not to come to the Old City again. He also updated his FB page several times, boasting about his act till his arrest.
Read: GHMC poll violence: Attacks unite Opposition
Two other youngsters, Abed Ali and Masihuddin, who broke the windshield of the Congress leaders’ car, were also arrested.
Kashaf, who claims himself as the social media administrator of the MIM, and Asaduddin Owaisi, ran towards the car carrying the Congress leaders and started punching Mr Shabbir. “He then went on to open the door and started kicking Shabbir Ali. He continued to assault Shabbir Ali till the cops overpowered him,” said a senior police official.
