Hyderabad, Dec 6 (IANS) The anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition passed off peacefully here amid tight security, police said Sunday.
Police had sounded an alert here in view of the shutdown call given by some Muslim groups and the intelligence reports that three terror suspects on the run could launch attacks.

Police foiled an attempt by Darasgah Jihad-o-Shadat (DJS) to take out a rally. DJS president Sheikh Mahboob Ali and some of his followers were arrested at DJS office in the old city when they tried to take out a rally demanding re-construction of the demolished mosque at the same site.

Holding black flags and flames in their hands, the protestors raised slogans against the right-wing Hindu outfits. Police said the protestors were arrested as orders banning assembly of five or more persons were imposed in the city.

Black flags were hoisted atop several buildings and at cross-roads in the Muslim-majority old city as shops and business establishments remained closed in response to the call given by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) and some other groups. These groups observed the day as ‘Black Day’.

Police has made tight security arrangements in view of the shutdown call, which also coincided with the 48-hour shutdown called by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) demanding separate state of Telangana.

MIM held a meeting in the city Saturday night demanding reconstruction of the demolished mosque. MIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi demanded that the government take action against 68 persons named in the Liberhan Commission report for demolition of the mosque.

The police had also sounded high alert as it suspected that three terror suspects who on the run could carry out attacks.

They included Viquar Ahmed, an alleged agent of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). Viquar Ahmed and his associates had opened fire on police while trying to evade arrest at IS Sadan neighbourhood in the city in November last year.

Police said he was also a suspect in the killing of a policeman at Falaknuma May 18, the second anniversary of the bomb blast at the historic Mecca Masjid here.

The day also passed off peacefully in other cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh.