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5 killed in violence, police firing in Hyderabad

At least five people were killed, including two in police firing, in violence incidents that rocked the old city of Hyderabad for the second day today. About 40 persons were injured, 17 of them in police firing.

The state government has asked the army to stand by as the violence, which broke out in the old city of Hyderabad yesterday, spread to fresh areas today, with four people being killed in stabbing and stone-throwing and subsequent police firing, forcing the authorities to clamp curfew in 13 police station limits.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who chaired a cabinet meeting to review the situation, told newsmen that on a request from the state government, the Centre was despatching additional forces to tackle the situation in the old city.

A sub-inspector of police in plainclothes was among those killed in the firing.

Miscreants set ablaze a shop and a police jeep near the historic Charminar area. Some people were injured in stone-throwing in Thalabkatta area.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been promulgated in five police station limits of Shalibanda, Moghulpura, Mirchowk, Hussainialam, and Bhavaninagar.

Police said the situation was tense, but under control.

The usually congested streets and bazaars in the old city wore a deserted look following the violence. Shops and other business establishments in the area pulled down their shutters following the violence.

Police patrolling in the troubled areas has been intensified. Additional platoons of the Rapid Action Force personnel were being deployed in the area.

Top police officials were camping in the area

The trouble began yesterday as members of a particular community went on the rampage following the circulation of a pamphlet allegedly denigrating their community.

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