25 held for violence in Hyderabad

As many as 25 people were arrested so far in connection with the communal violence that erupted in the city last week, the police said on Thursday.

"We have arrested 25 people for violent incidents. While 16 people were picked up from Gandhi Nagar and Musheerabad police station limits, nine others were held from Mangalhat police station limits," Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said.

At least four persons and two police officials were injured when two groups clashed after a youth was stabbed by unidentified assailants, prompting authorities to clamp prohibitory orders in Musheerabad police station limits on October 25.

The police had apprehended seven persons on the same day for allegedly indulging in stone pelting and damaging properties under Musheerabad police station limits.

Rioters pelted each other with stones and also damaged six vehicles including state-run RTC buses in the violence. Meanwhile, on a spate of burglaries at temples in the Old City area last week, Sharma said, "efforts have been intensified to nab culprits and we are expecting a breakthrough soon.

"It seems that a particular gang is behind the break-ins at the temples and their modus-operandi appears to target temples," the police commissioner said, adding communal angle should not be attributed to these thefts.

The police chief said six teams were formed and some suspects were already being questioned in this regard. "We are hopeful of early breakthrough," he added.

At least four temples were targeted by robbers in the last one month. In the latest incident on Saturday, the unidentified gang struck the famous Mahakali temple at Uppuguda and decamped with gold and silver ornaments besides cash to the tune of several lakhs.