Hyderabad violence: Innocents caught in cross-fire

Hyderabad: Despite being hit by a bullet on his left elbow, 40-year-old Mohammed Khaja locked himself in his house on Wednesday as he feared an attack again. Mr Khaja, a labourer, was persuaded by the police to come out. They shifted him to the Premier Hospital, Tolichowki late in the afternoon where the bullet was removed.

Eight people who had suffered bullet injuries in the violence that broke out at Kishen Bagh, Rajendranagar and three people who had suffered knife injuries, have been admitted to Premier Hospital, Care Hospital and Apollo Hospital.

Worried relatives claim that they were caught unaware by the sudden violence on Wednesday morning. Mohammed Irfan, an air-conditioner technician, whose brother Mohammed Nawaz has been admitted in Care Hospital, said, “After the morning prayers, doors were banged and people came in with knives and attacked. Before we could recover from that, firing had started. My brother was getting ready for work and was caught in the cross-fire.”

Mohammed Hafeez, whose father Mohammed Kaleem suffered a knife injury in his right shoulder, says, “My father opened the door and was attacked with a knife. People entered our house and beat him up. Women and children were sleeping and I just rushed out to save him.” A senior doctor at Premier hospital said, “In the morning, over 15 patients were brought in.

Those who had minor injuries were treated while those with bullet injuries were rushed to the operation theatre. The bullet injuries were mostly in the thigh, arm and elbow regions. In the case of 23-year-old Mohammed Arif, the bullet injury was in the abdomen and he has been operated upon and is recovering.”