Three held after meat waste thrown near Hyderabad annadanam event

Hyderabad: Three residents of a housing society in Madannapet in were taken into custody on Sunday afternoon. A packet containing bones and food waste was allegedly thrown near an Annadanam distribution during Ganesh immersion celebrations, police said. The material has been sent for forensic examination.

The incident took place around 3 pm at the 2 BHK Police Housing Society near Chanchalguda Cross Roads, Charminar Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police Kiran Khare said. Residents of the complex and members of the Ambedkar Association had organised Ganesh Navratri celebrations, including a food distribution programme, on Sunday.

A case has been registered under Sections 196(2) and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, read with Section 3(5). These provisions deal with promoting enmity between communities and outraging religious feelings. The complaint was filed by Pilli Prasad, a resident of the society and one of the Ganesh Mandapam organisers, who alleged the act was deliberate.

Those taken into custody were identified as Mohammad Imran Qureshi, Arshiya Begum and Sameena, all residents of the society, the DCP said. Police said they were detained for questioning and that stringent action would follow if they were found responsible. The three lived on the seventh floor of an apartment, and that the police were verifying eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage.

Accounts of what was thrown differ. Khare described the material as "non-veg material, like beef", while the FIR refers only to meat waste. An official at the Madannapet police station told media that the sample had been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory. The type of meat cannot be confirmed before the report, the official said.

BJP leaders and members of Hindu organisations staged a protest at Chanchalguda, alleging an attempt to defile the prasad served during the Annadanam and demanding immediate action. Police said the situation was brought under control and traffic movement returned to normal. Additional personnel and Rapid Action Force teams were deployed at sensitive locations, and flag marches were held in communally sensitive areas.

Khare appealed to people not to circulate rumours or unverified information, and warned that action would be taken against those spreading them.

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Hyderabad began on September 14 and will conclude with the main immersion procession on September 25.