Police opens fire in air to control situation in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Police opened fire in the air and resorted to lathicharge to disperse a mob to control the situation in the old city, where a bomb exploded in Mecca Masjid near Charminar, killing at least five people and injuring several others.

Police said irate people pelted stones at police personnel and ransacked some shops in the old city. In an effort to control the situation, police opened fire in the air and used water cannons to disperse the mob from near the mosque.

State Home Minister K Jana Reddy was reviewing the law and order situation with the city police officials in the Secretariat. He would visit the spot along with other Ministers this evening to ascertain the situation.

Personnel from paramilitary forces, Rapid Action Force (RPF) and city police were deployed in the old city area.