Several videos show a mob, reportedly of around 2,000 people, freely targeting shops in the market, with no sign of local law enforcement officials
Team Clarion
HYDERABAD – Alleging that a Muslim auto-rickshaw driver sexually assaulted a tribal woman in Jainoor mandal of Asifabad district in Telangana last week, a 2,000-strong mob on Wednesday attacked the properties belonging to the Muslim community.
Videos on social media show a mob targeting shops in the market freely with no sight of local law enforcement officials anywhere in that part of the district.
In protest against the attack on the tribal woman, some right-wing organisations issued a bandh call for Wednesday. On the pretext of non-compliance with the bandh call by some shops, the protestors attacked the properties belonging to the Muslim community.
A small contingent of police force was not enough to contain the violence and its personnel miserably failed to prevent attacks on Muslim properties. Reinforcements were rushed to the spot from neighbouring mandals and headquarters to assist the local police. Senior police officials from Asifabad and the state are on their way to the violence-hit areas to monitor the situation.
Condemning the violence, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi appealed for peace and said nobody should be allowed to take the law into their own hands.
Owaisi spoke with the Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) Dr Jitendra regarding recent violence.
The Hyderabad MP took to X and said, “I have spoken to @TelanganaDGP regarding incidents of communal disturbances in Jainoor, Asifabad District, the@TelanganaDGP assured me that it is being monitored and additional forces are being sent and action will be taken against people who take law in their hands.”
