Asaduddin Owaisi may face arrest; criminal case filed against AIMIM chief

Several Congress leaders, including Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, sustained minor injuries in the scuffle.

A criminal case has been filed against All India Majlis-e-Itttehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi and others after his party workers allegedly attacked Congress party leaders during the voting of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation polls on Tuesday.

The incident has triggered tension in parts of Hyderabad, the situation however remains fully in control, according to V Satyanarayana of the Hyderabad Police.

The attack took place in the presence of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who had reached the police station to protest presence of the Congress leaders.

“Police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse the agitated party workers when they, led by their respective leaders, gathered at the police station”, Rao said. Congress leaders led by Uttam Kumar Reddy later marched to the office of director general of police and staged a sit-in, demanding Owaisi’s arrest.

“Somehow, they want to win the elections”, he said.

In fact, Shabbir Ali alleged that it was Asaduddin Owaisi who picked up a stone and smashed the windscreen of the vehicle while his supporters joined him.

Uttam Reddy also claimed MIM workers also attacked a reporter of Urdu daily Siasat when he raised an objection to rigging. Uttam Kumar Reddy termed it as “a conspiracy by both Telangana Rashtra Samithi and MIM”. “Police said that it was preventive arrest”, Owaisi said. They were approached by around 200 AIMIM workers, following which a heated argument ensued.

Police took MIM lawmaker Ahmed Balala into custody in connection with the incident.