Telangana: Friday prayers pass off peacefully across old city

Hyderabad Police ensure tight security arrangements as Holi and second Friday of Ramzan month coincide this year

Hyderabad: Amidst tight security arrangements, the Friday prayers concluded peacefully in old city particularly at the historic Mecca Masjid.

The Hyderabad Police remained vigilant as Holi festival and the second Friday of Ramzan month coincided this year, a rare occurrence happening after 35 years.

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A total of 2,000 police personnel including law and order, Task Force, Rapid Action Force and Paramilitary Forces were deployed near mosques and at various places across the old city covering the south zone. Almost 200 personnel were posted at Mecca Masjid and Charminar alone.

With Holi celebrations and Friday prayers, including Jumma Asr Namaz during Ramzan, happening almost simultaneously, Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand stressed the necessity of heightened alertness.

Earlier, the Commissioner, emphasising the need for strategic deployment during the Kamuni Dahanam programmes, coinciding with Isha Namaz and Tarabi prayers, highlighted the importance of effective patrolling and crowd management to ensure communal harmony.

All senior officers, including Additional Commissioners, Joint Commissioners, and Deputy Commissioners of Police remained on duty until Friday evening. South Zone DCP Sneha Mehra and Detective Department DCP N Swetha supervised the situation on the ground continuously.

Peace committee members were also requested to assist the police in maintaining order.