ARAB NEWS: HYDERABAD

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader, Asaduddin Owaisi, demanded on Wednesday arrest of the Border Security Force (BSF) men who opened fire during communal clashes at Kishanbagh in Indian city of Hyderabad’s Old City, killing three.

Owaisi, who is member of Parliament (MP), asked the government to set up a probe by a sitting High Court judge into the incident.

He made the statement after he led his AIMIM lawmakers (MLAs and MP) in touring the riot-hit area of Kishanbagh.

At least 19 were injured when BSF officers opened fire on clashing groups to control mobs that turned on each other after a religious flag was burned late last night. The situation was brought under control by afternoon. Police have clamped indefinite curfew on the affected areas to calm the situation, according to the police commissioner, C.V. Anand.

Trouble reportedly broke out after members of a community allegedly found a burned religious flag at a flag post in an open ground near a hillock, police said.

Following rumors that it was burned by members of the minority community, some people attacked their houses and shops. The communal violence occurred as India keenly await results of the marathon parliamentary elections which are to be announced on Friday.

The rise of the radical Hindu party on Indian political scenario has increasingly vitiated the communal atmosphere in the country. State governor E. S. L. Narasimhan meanwhile reviewed the law and order situation at a meeting with senior police officials.