Tensions erupted in Hyderabad on the night of 10 June, when Muslim youths were assaulted near a hotel in the Raidurgam area of HITEC City. The attackers, allegedly members of a right-wing group, wielded sticks and swords and forced the victims to chant the slogan “Jai Shri Ram.”
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack appeared planned and deliberately timed to coincide with Eid-Al-Azha (Bakrid) celebrations. “They arrived around midnight, shouting slogans, vandalised a paan shop, and then attacked Muslim youths sitting nearby,” said a hotel employee.
The victims, from the Shaikpet area, had gone to meet friends. While some escaped, others were caught and beaten. One victim recalled, “They demanded we chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. When we refused, they beat us even more. One of my friends is still in the hospital.”
Locals gathered at the site soon after the incident, raising slogans against the attackers and condemning police inaction. Residents believe the attackers specifically targeted Muslims. “This wasn’t random violence—it was meant to instill fear,” said Abdul Sattar of Shaikpet.
In a related incident on 8 June, a Muslim auto driver transporting cattle was assaulted in Attapur by members of a group calling itself ‘Kathar Gau Raksha Dal’. They beat him, stole his phone and money, and damaged his vehicle. In Jallipalli, miscreants also torched a truck carrying animal waste after Bakrid.
Violence escalated in Attapur when two groups clashed, and stones were allegedly thrown at police by Hindu outfit members, injuring three officers. Police later arrested over 25 people linked to the Attapur and Mailardevpalli violence and formed a special team to probe the Raidurgam attack. Still, public trust remains low.
Activists and community members blame the rise of extremist Hindu groups and government silence. “If Muslims did this, they’d be jailed immediately. But these attackers roam free,” said Ayesha Fatima, a college student.
Despite the violence, some Hindu and Muslim residents are calling for unity and planning peace marches. But fear persists, especially among working-class Muslims. “We just want safety and justice,” said Bilal Qureshi, a student leader. — With Agencies Inputs
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com.