Three violent incidents in Hyderabad Old City raise concerns over policing

Three violent incidents in Hyderabad’s Old City in 24 hours, including a bike riot, a stabbing, and shop vandalism, have caused public panic. Residents question the effectiveness of police patrols and call for stronger law enforcement in Shahalibanda, Chaderghat, and Vattepally.

Hyderabad: Three incidents in the last 24 hours have spread panic among the residents of the Old City, even as people raise questions over the field-level policing strategies adopted to curb nuisance.

On Monday, around 9 pm, fear gripped the localities of Alibagh and Amjed Dowla Bagh in Shahalibanda police station area after bike and scooter-borne miscreants, wielding sticks, went around rioting.

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An auto rickshaw was parked near Plaza Photo Studio, a car, two wheelers and an auto rickshaw were parked near Crescent High School, and other vehicles were damaged by the rioters.

“I had stepped out of the house when I noticed a few individuals wielding big sticks, shouting and damaging vehicles. I rushed back into our house and bolted the door,” said a local woman resident, on condition of anonymity.

Azeem, a shopkeeper, said the people ran riot around amidst full public presence. “They were carrying big sticks, screaming at the people, and damaging vehicles. If such activities continue, we will have to shift our business to a safer place. There is no fear of police among the unsocial elements,” he said.

Not far away from Shahalibanda, a few hours away on Vattepally Road, a man was stabbed in full public view. Ironically, despite heavy bleeding, the man identified as Ashraf walked for around 2 km and reached his sister’s house at Owaisi Hills, where he collapsed. “No policeman came, even after informing the police station. At last, an ambulance arrived and shifted my uncle to Osmania Hospital,” said a relative of Ashraf.

The victim was reportedly attacked by his relative, Baba, over some financial issues. “The police officials say the patrol vehicles arrive within minutes. On Monday night, no one turned up, and the man, after being attacked, walked km; it could have taken around 30 minutes easily to cover the path,” said Zubair Ahmed, a resident of Teegalkunta.

Meanwhile, at Chaderghat, a man reportedly associated with a criminal gang vandalised a mobile phone accessories shop, located 100 metres from Chaderghat police station. The man carried a sickle along with him and threatened to kill the shop owner when he refused to give a phone accessory for free. A few weeks ago, a group of individuals had ransacked the same shop.