Hyderabad on edge: Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh makes derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad; arrested

Hyderabad: Police have arrested BJP MLA from Goshamahal Raja Singh for making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad. This followed massive protests against Singh for uploading highly inflammatory YouTube video. Many protestors stormed several police stations location in the south zone of Hyderabad, including Commissioner of police's office at Basheerbagh.

Hyderabad city task force and Shahithyagunj police immediately swung into action and arrested Raja Singh on Tuesday morning. This comes after massive protests that rocked parts of Hyderabad, especially at Dabeerpura, Humayun Nagar, Charminar, Chandrayangutta and other parts of South Zone. Hyderabad has been placed under high alert. Security has been beefed up at many police stations, residence of MLA Raja Singh and CP's office.

Protests erupted at around 2 am on Tuesday after Raja Singh released the controversial video on YouTube at midnight. Massive protests led by AIMIM, Hyderabad Youth Courage (HYC) rocked Dabeerpura, Humayun Nagar, Charminar Chandrayangutta, and other parts of the city. At midnight, protesters assembled near the Commissioner of Police office in Basheerbagh demanding the arrest of Raja Singh.

According to the Dabeerpura Inspector, a case was registered against Raja Singh under section 153 A, 295 A, 505, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The complaint was filed by Mohammed Wajhi Uddin Salman, a resident of Dabeerpura. "I would like to submit that Raja Singh, Goshamahal MLA, has hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community by uploading a video on social media regarding our Prophet using very vulgar language which I cannot mention. Our sentiments are very much hurt which cannot be tolerated," read the complaint.

In the video posted on `Shree Ram Channel Telangana', Raja Singh also abused comedian Munawar Faruqui and his mother two days after his show in Hyderabad.

He even made comments very similar to the ones made by BJP leader Nupur Sharma, which had evoked condemnation from Muslim countries.

On Tuesday morning, AIMIM corporators protested in front of the Chandrayangutta police station demanding Raja Singh's arrest.

According to sources, the Chandrayangutta flyover's inauguration by Minister of Industries and Commerce K T Rama Rao is likely to be postponed amidst the protests in the city. As per reports, protests are expected to continue across the city on Tuesday as well.

It is important to recall that Raja Singh had attempted to disrupt Munawar Faruqui's show at Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad on 21 August.