Calls to behead suspended BJP MLA amid fresh Hyderabad protests

HYDERABAD: Criminal cases were registered against suspended BJP legislator T Raja Singh in Hyderabad over his controversial remarks alluding to the Prophet. A large group of slogan-shouting protesters, some of them calling for his beheading was stopped near City College.
A 50-strong group that included two corporators of Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM was taken i nto preventive custody after forcing shops to down shutters at Shah Ali Banda. Afternoon prayers were held at the city’s Mecca Masjid under strict police vigil, overseen by five IP S officers. The police’s assurance of stringent action against Raja Singh did little to calm mobs gathered in neighbourhoods like Shah Ali Banda,Dabeerpura, Hussainialam, Chandrayangutta , Begum Bazar and Mangalhat. His judicial remand appeared to fuel the anger. Shops that had opened for business in the morning kept their shutters half-closed amid escalating tension.
Police officials alleged a conspiracy to disturb peace in the city. “Hyderabad’s youth are known to be peaceloving. We request peoplenot to fall into the trap of the conspira tors,” DCP incharge (south zone) P Sai Chaitanya said.
He said a batter of advocates had been engaged to deal with the rash of cases filed against Raja Singh. Officials said ca ses had been registered against him at Nampally, Malakpet, Mangalhat, Jeedimetla, Vanasthalipuram, Dabeerpura and three other police stations.