Protests in Hyderabad's old city over BJP legislator Raja Singh's comments

Protests started in the city against BJP Goshamahal legislator T Raja Singh on Monday night following his alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed. A case was booked against him at the Dabeerpura police station.

Trouble started around midnight after the legislator allegedly uploaded a video on his Facebook page making derogatory comments against Prophet Mohammed and targeting a particular community. He also mocked standup comedian Munawar Faruqui, who held a show in the city on Saturday evening amidst heavy security.

Soon after the video surfaced , scores of people gathered at different police stations in the city and started to protest. A large number of people gathered at the Commissioner’s Office at Basheerbagh and started a protest. Similar protests were organized at Bhavaninagar, Dabeerpura, Nampally and a few other police stations.

Senior police officials rushed to their offices to supervise the security arrangements and force deployment in the city to prevent any communal flare up.

AIMIM Malakpet legislator Ahmed Bin Abdullah Balala reached the Dabeerpura police station and made a complaint. A case was booked by the police under Sections 153A,



295 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) P Sai Chaitanya said there were protests at the different police stations in the city.

“Action will be initiated against any person who made derogatory comments at Prophet Mohammed. We request people to have faith in the police and not break the law,” he said.

Raja Singh had earlier demanded the State government cancel the show of standup comedian Munawar Faruqui alleging that he had made adverse comments against Lord Ram and Sita during his previous shows.

However, he was placed under house arrest by the Hyderabad police on Friday and Saturday as a preventive measure.

Meanwhile security is beefed up in the city following the last night incident. Police pickets are posted at all communally sensitive areas of the city. Senior police officials are monitoring the situation.

The crowd that was staging a sit-in at the Hyderabad Commissioner of Police office building at Basheerbagh was dispersed. Some persons were taken into custody by the police and shifted to different police stations.