Hyderabad police made a significant arrest late on Thursday night. The Kamatipura police apprehended a man accused of vandalizing a religious place in Puranapul. This incident occurred on January 14 and triggered serious communal tension in the area.
Violence Erupts After Vandalism
The alleged act of vandalism led to a major clash between two different communities. More than three hundred people gathered and attacked each other. Police officials confirmed the situation quickly escalated out of control.
Authorities had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the violent mob. The clash resulted in injuries to several individuals from the crowd. Four police personnel sustained severe injuries while trying to manage the situation.
Details of the Arrest and Charges
Police filed a case based on a complaint from a resident of Hussainialam. The arrested man faces charges under multiple sections of the BNS. These include Sections 324(2) for mischief, 329 for trespass, and 298 for damaging a place of worship.
Investigations revealed the suspect was in an inebriated state during the offense. The vandalism involved damaging a flexi banner and a Plaster of Paris idol. These items were set up in the veranda of the religious place.
Deputy Commissioner of Police S Srinivas from the Rajendranagar zone provided details. He stated the police apprehended the suspect within twenty-four hours of the incident. Officers are currently interrogating the man to gather further evidence.
Timeline of the Incident
The initial probe indicates the vandalism happened around 11:30 PM on January 14. Other members of the community noticed the accused and tried to nab him. However, he managed to slip away and flee the scene.
News about the alleged vandalism spread rapidly through the area. Members of one community gathered in large numbers demanding strict action. In their agitation, they damaged property belonging to the other community.
Escalation and Police Response
The gathering soon turned into a violent face-off between the two groups. The agitated mob targeted vehicles plying on the route. They damaged several vehicles, including some belonging to the police force.
Protesters even set one motorcycle ablaze during the clashes. Police initially tried to control the mob by appealing for restraint. When these appeals failed, officers had to use force with a lathicharge.
Tension continued to prevail in and around Puranapul until Thursday morning. Police deployed additional forces to the area to maintain order. Authorities also clamped restrictions to prevent any further untoward incidents.
Separate Case for Attacks on Police
A city police official confirmed the protesters attacked police personnel. Four officers suffered severe injuries during these attacks. Police registered a separate case in connection with these assaults.
This case includes charges under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The Sub-Inspector of Kamatipura police station filed the complaint. It addresses both the attacks on police personnel and the vandalizing of the religious structure.
Police continue their investigation into the entire sequence of events. They are working to identify all individuals involved in the violence. The situation in Puranapul remains under close police surveillance.
