Hyderabad Hanuman Jayanthi Rally Under Tight Security

Hyderabad is all set to celebrate Hanuman Jayanthi today amidst tight security. Heavy police bandobust has been put in place for the Hanuman Jayanthi Rally in view of the permission given to Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia to address the gathering at two places. Special police pickets have been posted near mosques and churches to prevent any untoward incident. About 10,000 police personnel, including the Hyderabad police, 32 battalions of AP Special Police (APSP), four companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and 500 police personnel from other districts, would be monitoring the rally.

At a press conference here on Thursday, VHP state joint secretary Yaman Singh said they were expecting over two lakh members to participate in the bike rally. "The participants are requested not to cover their faces and not to hide the vehicle registration numbers with stickers," Singh said. VHP supremo Praveen Togadia would flag off the rally and deliver speeches at Gowliguda and Tadban Hanuman temples.

The rally is scheduled to start at Gowliguda Hanuman temple at 10 am and pass through Putlibowli, Sultan Bazaar, Ram Kote, Kacheguda crossroads, Narayanguda, Chikkadpally, RTC X Roads, Ashok Nagar X Roads, Gandhi Nagar, Kavadiguda, Praga Tools, Bible House, Bata, Paradise and reach Tadbun Hanuman temple in the evening. Police identified 18 mosques, chillas and five churches on the rally route where static police pickets headed by an official of not less than sub-inspector (SI) rank would be in place. In view of the stone pelting incident at a place of worship during the Hanuman rally in 2010, the RTC crossroads-Musheerabad crossroads stretch would be blocked throughout the day and traffic would also be diverted accordingly.

In addition to the main rally, several small rallies would be taken out in their localities in the Old City. In South Zone, rallies would be taken out at Upparabasti in Madannapet, Ghansi Bazaar area in Charminar police limits and Moosabowli Hanuman temple in Moghulpura. Several similar rallies would be taken out from Dhoolpet and Mangalhat. Since Good Friday is also being observed on the same day, the police have sought cooperation from all quarters including organisers of the processions and religious leaders through meetings.