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The Hyderabad City police is making elaborate security arrangements for the forthcoming Jummat-ul-Vida prayers slated for November 29 at the Mecca Masjid in Old City. The prayers mark the last Friday of Ramzan.
There was tension in Old City over the killing of two alleged terrorists by the police in encounters following last Thursday's bomb blast at the Sai Baba temple.
Additional personnel are being mobilised from outside the city to ensure peace during the next one week.
More than 100,000 Muslims are expected to congregate at the Mecca Masjid near the historic Charminar in Old City for Friday prayers. All the roads leading to the mosque will be closed from morning and traffic will be diverted.
"We are not anticipating any trouble, but this is our preparedness for dealing with any situation," Hyderabad City Police Commissioner M L Kumawat said on Wednesday.
"We have called for duty 29 senior police officers who have served in Old City... for supervising the security measures on Friday," he added.
In all, 1,780 civil policemen and 1,500 armed policemen will be deployed. Four companies of the Rapid Action Force, 42 platoons of the armed reserve and nine teargas squads are being deployed.
Police pickets will be put up at 163 places. Besides, 37 mobile patrolling parties and 30 foot patrolling parties will be on duty. Six strike forces will be deployed at strategic points.
Kumawat said all political parties, including the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Majlis Bachao Tahreek, have assured him of cooperation. He denied reports that the police will cancel the permission for MIM's meeting on Holy Quran Day at the Mecca Masjid on Friday.
The security arrangements will remain in place till December 6, the 10th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
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