Despite a virtual ban on morchas in the Old City, two major communities in the city took out a peace rally together from Malakpet on Friday to restore peace in the troubled city.
Addressing the rally, the leaders called for peace and harony and cooperate with the police in bringing the situation back to normal. They urged people to shun hatred and cultivate communal amity. Hindus and Muslims should live like brothers in the state, they said in unison.
Raising slogans such as Hindu-Muslim Bhai Bhai the two groups organized all-religion prayers to bring in peace into the trouble-torn areas.
Meanwhile, the Muslim leaders in the Old City prayed for peace at the Mecca Masjid on Friday afternoon. About 50 Muslim leaders prayed for peace and appealed to people to observe restraint.
The police heaved a sigh of relief as the mass prayers passed off peacefully in the Old City.