Efforts on to nab attackers: Home Minister

Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy on Saturday condemned the attack on the MIM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi who was on an official visit in the old city and said that efforts are on to nab the mastermind of the attack.

Ms Indra Reddy told media persons at the Secretariat that the MIM MLA was stable and out of danger.

She also revealed that Principal Health Secretary P V Ramesh and the Health Commissioner have been posted at the Owaisi Hospital to monitor the health situation of the MIM MLA.

The Home Minister said that Special police teams have been deployed to apprehend the culprits who are behind the attacks.

Ms Indra Reddy said that the MIM MLA was on a ‘padayatra’ when he was attacked between 11 AM and 11.15 am.

The Home Minister said that Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi had attempted to escape injury by holding up his wrist against the attacks but his wrist was injured due to the sharp weapons used.

Malakpet MLA Ahmed Balala, who was accompanying Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi came to the

latter’s rescue. Mr Balala’s gunman fired back at the miscreants killing one of the miscreants on the spot and injuring two others, the Home Minister said.

Doctors attending on the MIM leader are understood to have said to the Home Minister that his condition was stable.

His vital body parts, including kidney, liver and heart were functioning well.

The Minister, condemning the attack, said that there was no room for violence and government was taking all possible measures to maintain the law and order.

Stating that efforts were on to trace the culprits, Ms Indra Reddy appealed to the people and media to cooperate to scuttle the attempts by vested interests who would try to spread rumours.

The Chief Minister has also instructed the officials concerned to apprehend the culprits, she said.

The Home Minister also informed that Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi had been trying to protect the

interests of the Wakf property which he wanted to use for construction of a stadium for public.

This was allegedly opposed by a section of the people who masterminded the attack on the young MIM leader, Ms Indra Reddy said.

When asked to spell out further steps that would be taken, the Home Minister replied that forces were being deployed to check any untoward incident and assured that the Old City will be  peaceful and there was no scope for any repetition of such an incident.