Congress leaders injured in MIM attack

Hyderabad: Two top Congress leaders party were injured in an attack by MIM workers in the old city here during elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on Tuesday.

Congress' Telangana unit president Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir sustained minor injuries in the attack in front of Mirchowk police station.

MIM workers attacked Uttam Kumar Reddy's car, damaged its window panes and manhandled the Shabbir, who is leader of opposition in Telangana legislative council.

Shabbir sustained injuries including one near his eye. 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.

The incident led to tension in the area. 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.

The Congress leader demanded repolling in all divisions in the old city. He alleged that MIM in collusion with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) rigged the elections.

Uttam Reddy also claimed MIM workers also attacked a reporter of Urdu daily "Siasat" when he raised an objection to rigging.

Trouble began after the Congress leaders came to the Mirchowk police station to demand release of party leader Mohammed Ghouse, who was earlier arrested in Khilwat area.

Owaisi with his party workers also reached the police station raising slogans against the Congress leaders. The MP wanted to know from police why the Congress leaders were allowed.

Ghouse, who recently resigned from the MIM to join the Congress, and MIM leader and Charminar legislator Ahmed Pasha Khadri were arrested in Khilwat when they clashed near a polling station after accusing each other of influencing voters.