Bhainsa violence: 40 arrested; controversial BJP MLA put under house arrest

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, January 14

Hyderabad Police placed Bharatiya Janata Party’s lone Member of Legislative Assembly Raja Singh under house arrest on Tuesday after he announced his intention of visiting the communally disturbed Bhainsa mandal in Nirmal district.

Singh represents Goshamahal in Hyderabad—the only constituency represented by the saffron party in the Telangana Assembly.

Singh has been known to make his controversial statements in the past. For instance, he refused to take oath as MLA administered by a pro-tem speaker who belonged to the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) last year saying AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi was funding terrorist. His other statements included advocating shooting of “outsiders in Assam”, among other things.

He said in a tweet on Tuesday: “I planned to go Bhainsa on Tuesday but before I could start, a police team placed me under house arrest and posted police outside my house”.

Clashes broke out in the town over a petty issue about some people riding motorcycles without silencers late on Sunday night leading to arguments between members of two communities, followed by assault, stone-pelting and arson which continued beyond midnight. Police have issued a statement saying that the situation was peaceful and under control.

Several people, including policemen, were wounded in clashes. Police have since imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code to prevent escalation.

Police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse crowds. Officials said situation was “under control” on Tuesday.

“The situation is peaceful and totally under control and we are supervising the situation,” a senior official said.  Police have arrested 40 people so far on the basis of CCTV images.

Internet services have been suspended. Some of the rioters allegedly cut off water pipes of the fire engines that were engaged in firefighting, district officials said, adding some residents have also claimed that their houses were also looted by an angry mob.

Movement of all political leaders to Bhainsa has been barred who were trying to provoke the crowd has been barred, officials said.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy who hails from Telangana today spoke to the Telangana DGP and later tweeted saying, “I’m deeply troubled by the news of a violent attack on individuals and properties at Bhainsa, Telangana. Such actions are condemnable. Spoke to @TelanganaDGP on the need to provide security to all citizens & their properties. Also called for strict action against the miscreants,”

In another statement, the BJP’s Telangana state Chief Spokesperson K KrishnaSaagar Rao claimed that few criminal mobs have ‘intentionally planned’ and ‘physically attacked’ Hindus, besides burning their vehicles and homes. “Huge arson is being reported by the local Hindu population, who are now fearful of more violence soon,” he said, demanding an NIA probe into the incident.