The area around the Charminar was once again the scene of violence on Friday afternoon as members of a community clashed with the police. They hurled stones at police personnel safeguarding the monument and burnt four four-wheelers and a bike. At least seven people were injured in the heavy stone-pelting in the Pathergatti and Kalikamaan area.
The trouble began when members of the community reportedly tried to hold prayers inside the Charminar and were stopped by the police. “The community members were permitted to hold prayers in the (Mecca) Masjid but not inside the Charminar,” said additional commissioner of police Mohd Ahsan Reza, who was monitoring the situation together with other senior police officers and 300 police personnel.
A larger number of people than usual had gathered for the Friday prayers in Mecca Masjid. Once the prayers were over, some of them raised slogans against the police and tried to remove the barricade and gain entry to the Charminar.
Within minutes, the 500-square meter area around the Charminar had turned into a battleground. The furious mob burnt down two four-wheelers at Gulzar Houz.