HYDERABAD: Three residents of an apartment complex in Hyderabad were detained after a packet containing non-vegetarian food waste was thrown from the building when the building was being readied for a Ganesh immersion program. The incident happened on Sunday afternoon in Madannapet and caused some tension in the city.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 3 pm when the Ganesh immersion programme and Annadanam was going on in the area. A packet of bones and non-vegetarian food waste was found near the food distribution area. Police teams from the Charminar Zone immediately reached the location after receiving information and began an inquiry.
Charminar Zone DCP Kiran Khare said three residents of the housing complex were taken into custody in connection with the incident. Mohammed Imran Qureshi, Arshiya Begum and Sabina/Sameena, as well as others, were identified in the police and media reports. There are differences in the spelling of the third person’s name in the reports. Police are questioning the three residents in relation to the current investigation.
Incident During Ganesh Programme
The incident took place while preparations for Ganesh immersion were going on and the Annadanam programme was going on nearby. The material was thrown from a residential building and landed close to the place where food was being prepared or distributed, said police.
The development attracted the attention of people gathered at the site, causing a brief tense situation. Police officers intervened and took steps to prevent the situation from escalating.
The Ganesh programme organizers, however, filed a complaint or petition to the police for action to be taken over the incident. Officers are also investigating the circumstances of the incident and who threw the packet and how the packet reached the ground.
Three Residents Detained
DCP Kiran Khare confirmed that three residents of the housing complex had been detained for questioning. Police will now take further legal action based on the findings of the preliminary inquiry and evidence collected during the investigation, she said.
At this stage, the police have not publicly explained the motivation behind the incident. Some reports and allegations have depicted the material as meat or beef, but police have referred to it in their initial statements as non-vegetarian material or food waste. As such, the nature and circumstances of the material are still under investigation.
Investigations are also being conducted into the sequence of events inside the apartment complex and the circumstances under which the material was allegedly thrown.
Police Appeal Against Rumours
Police had asked people and social media users at the time not to spread rumours and unverified claims. As the investigation continues, police will need to rely on the confirmed information provided by them.
This is especially sensitive as it happened during a religious festival and in connection with a public Ganesh immersion programme. Police said the situation was brought under control when officers arrived on site and additional officers were put in place as a precautionary measure.
People should keep calm and not share social media posts that have not been independently verified, officials said. The police have also indicated that legal action will depend on the results of the investigation.
Investigation Underway
The case is still under investigation in which officers question the three detained residents and investigate the complaint submitted by the organisers.
The incident has again made law and order a very important aspect of large public religious gatherings in Hyderabad. Police are continuing security arrangements as well as monitoring sensitive places with Ganesh immersion in the city.
And no one should rush to conclude about the event or motive until the investigation has been launched, they said. Any action against those responsible will be made based on evidence collected by the police.
