Thaindian News

Hyderabad, March 31 (IANS) As a dispute over religious flags triggered the communal riots in Hyderabad, the city police have decided to remove all religious flags and banners from public places.
Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters Wednesday that Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) would remove all religious banners and flags in the city.

It was a dispute between two groups over putting up a religious flag which sparked communal clashes in the old city Saturday. The riots have so far claimed two lives and left over 100 injured while indefinite curfew is continuing in 25 police station areas.

Some people of one community were putting up their religious flags by removing the flags of the other community, which led to a quarrel between two groups last week.

Police believe that religious flags and banners put up by some groups during the festivals were becoming a major source of tension, especially in the communally sensitive old city.

Police sources said there was a competition going on between two political groups in old city in putting up flags on streets, traffic junctions and high-rise structures.

They point out that one group put up green flags and banners at every available point during Miladunnabi while the rival group painted the city saffron last week by putting up saffron flags for Hanuman Jayanti.

Some concerned citizens complain that these flags and banners are not removed after the festivals, leading to communal tensions.