AIMIM members launch protest in Charminar against attack on Owaisi

Hyderabad: Some members of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) launched a protest near Makkah Masjid in Charminar here on Friday. Scores of youngsters gathered after the afternoon prayers and raised slogans against the BJP and the UP police. The protest continued for around half an hour.

On Thursday, four shots were fired at AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's vehicle at the Chhijarsi tollgate in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. He was returning to Delhi from Kithaur, Meerut, after campaigning for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Following this, some AIMIM members had called a protest. Heavy security was deployed in the Charminar area to prevent any untoward incidents. The police later dispersed the protesters. Meanwhile, shops and restaurants remained closed to protest against the attack on Mr. Owaisi. There were reports of small protests in other areas of the city too.

Mr. Owaisi had alleged that three-four rounds of bullets were fired at his vehicle. "Some time ago my car was fired at Chhijarsi toll gate. 4 rounds fired. There were 3-4 people, all of them ran away and left the weapons there. My car got punctured, but I got out in another car and left. We are all safe," Mr. Owaisi had tweeted on Thursday.

Two people have been arrested for firing at the AIMIM chief's convoy, the police said

A day after the attack, Mr. Owaisi was given 'Z category' security by the government, sources said.

'Z category' is a security detail of 22 personnel, including four to six National Security Guard (NSG) commandos and police personnel. It is provided by the Delhi police or the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) or the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel along with one escort car.

Earlier on Friday, Mr. Owaisi had asserted that he has never sought security cover and he never would because it is the government's responsibility to protect his life.