MIM MLA obstructs police search operations in Old City

Hyderabad: Even as the pro and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests continue to keep the country on the edge, the Old City saw a new controversy erupting on Tuesday when AIMIM MLA from Charminar, Mumtaz Khan began obstructing police from carrying out 'Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the area.

The Legislator was disappointed that the police were conducting the exercise in his constituency. He was heard saying "You guys are harassing people and creating nuisance. The people are already facing a lot of trouble with the NRC. What kind of cordon and search is this? Why are you asking Aadhar card details of people?"

When the police officials clarified that they were only asking for ID proofs and vehicle documents, the MLA urged them to leave. He told them to maintain law and order and understand the precarious situation.

Mumtaz Khan also told police that he had received more than 25 calls in no time stating that police are troubling the public and appealed to the police to not trouble public.

Immediately thereafter, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members wanted to know why no case has been booked against the MLA for obstructing police from going about their duties. They further said, "When Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh can be booked for obstructing, why not Mumtaz Khan?"

Meanwhile, independent Security researcher Srinivas Kodali took to twitter terming the searches as illegal. “The @hydcitypolice does an illegal exercise called cordon off search, where 200 cops go door to door & ask for id details. They used to do this middle of night, in the name of finding criminals in poor neighbours. Now people of the city have started speaking up. #CAA_NRC_Protests” he wrote.

The @hydcitypolice does an illegal exercise called cordon off search, where 200 cops go door to door & ask for id details. They used to do this middle of night, in the name of finding criminals in poor neighbours. Now people of the city have started speaking up. #CAA_NRC_Protests pic.twitter.com/fEXBMKRIU8

— Srinivas Kodali (@digitaldutta) January 7, 2020