Ground Report: Friend-turned-foe? SRT Nagar blames Congress leader Baba Fasiuddin for Mohammed Sardar’s death

Hyderabad: Did friends, corporator Baba Fasiuddin and Mohammed Sardar, turn into foes, and how much did this change in their relationship factor into the latter’s unfortunate death?

The alleged suicide of Borabanda Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader Mohammed Sardar has brought to light the changing real estate landscape and basti politics in Hyderabad.

Family and friends insist that corporator Baba Fasiuddin, who switched to the Congress party from BRS last year, is responsible for the death of Sardar. The police have filed an FIR and named the corporator in it.

Together in BRS

However, people in this large slum area of SRT Nagar claimed that there was bonhomie between the two when they were in the BRS.

A businessman in the area, on condition of anonymity, said, “Things don’t change overnight. Both were in the same party and did the same things, which are common practices of party workers of all political parties. They were together for the last 10 years and more. What went wrong between them could be multiple issues, such as business dealings or dominance over the area for political gains.”

Mohammed Sardar and his family have a medical shop in Borabanda. Sardar is quite a known face in the basti, which is largely dominated by Muslims.

Baba Fasiuddin pressured Sardar to join Congress, says family

The house that Sardar built recently led to many issues for the BRS leader, including a notice from the GHMC, which claimed unauthorised construction. The family claimed it was Baba Fasiuddin who was behind the notice.

Sardar’s brother, Mohammed Ibrahim, said, “The GHMC notice about the construction came in April, but we were not aware of it. As many as 150 policemen came to the basti along with GHMC workers and demolished the slab of our home. The slab was built by us five years ago, but it did not have any side walls or rooms. Those were constructed only recently.”

Ibrahim said, “Baba Fasiuddin switched over to Congress after the government in the State changed. From then on, he was pressuring my brother to switch, but he was not willing. The pressure tactics continued, and these notices were issued. Before we could opt for a legal remedy, the slab was demolished. My brother could not handle the demolition and was very upset. He continuously kept on telling all of us that he could not protect the family home. He was very upset. But we never thought he would take this harsh step.”

‘Baba Fasiuddin misused the town planning department to issue notices’

The family is traumatised and they are not able to come to terms that he is no more with them.

Sardar’s friend, Abass, said, “There were never any demolitions during the time of BRS. No notices were issued to anyone in the basti. Only after Baba Fasiuddin switched to the Congress party that he start using the town planning department to issue notices. My home was also given a notice by the department for unauthorised construction. I have met mayor Vijayalakshmi Gadwal for the same. Sardar should have opted for a legal remedy and not taken this severe step. We want justice, and we want police to arrest Baba Fasiuddin.”

‘Arrest Baba Fasiduddin’

The basti residents carried out a candle march with banners demanding the arrest of Baba Fasiuddin for the death of Mohammed Sardar.

There is anger among the people after the death of Sardar. Local businessmen and people alleged that they had been harassed by Baba Fasiuddin for the last 10 years, but they had not complained to the police.

“Only if he is arrested will we come forward to complain,” said a businessman and also some locals.

Construction in basti

Construction activity in the basti is on the rise as those with 75 square feet of area and more than 100 square feet are constructing ground plus two floors.

A contractor said, “Once the construction work starts, there are people who come and take money. We cannot tell who they are and which party they belong to, but that is a common practice.” With the expanding families and the need for more space, there are lots of ground plus two floors in the basti of SRT Nagar.

Politics around Sardar’s death

The Congress party is facing a major backlash in the city as many are holding the ruling government responsible for Sardar’s death. The name of the party is constantly featured in the conversation of the family and in the media.

To understand the situation and console the family, Congress leaders Mohammed Azharuddin, Faheem Querishi and others visited the family. Azharuddin said, “Police investigation is going to be carried out, and the complaints of the family against Baba Fasiuddin have been taken into account.”

Member of Parliament G Kishan Reddy from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also visited the family on June 3. The family has presented their list of demands to the leaders.

BRS leaders are also expected to visit the family soon.

As the suicide of Sardar turns into a political battle in Borabanda, it is an all-out slugfest between Congress, BJP and BRS over who is to blame for the conditions that led to the unfortunate death.