Editor of Urdu newspaper attacked in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The editor of a prominent Urdu daily in Hyderabad was attacked late in the night when he was returning home.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Zahid Ali Khan, editor of Siasat, was attacked on Tuesday night at Mehdipatnam area of the city. Some unidentified people intercepted his car and threw filth on him.

Khan alleged that Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislator Muqtada Afsar Khan was behind the assault as his newspaper had been exposing the legislator's alleged land grabbing activities.

The incident led to tension in the area as activists of Telugu Desam party (TDP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) and Majlis Bachao Tehreek gathered in large numbers to protest against the attack.

Traffic jam

Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Shabbir, Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh and other officials rushed to the scene as the protest led to a traffic jam on the busy road.

Meanwhile, protesters attacked a reporter and a photographer of another Urdu daily when they reached the scene to report the incident.

Khan later drove to state Home Minister K. Jana Reddy and the chief minister's residences to brief them about the attack.

Police have detained three youth in connection with the assault.

As soon as the state assembly met yesterday, opposition parties raised the issue and sought to move an adjournment motion.

The chief minister informed the House that Khan and two journalists were attacked. He said an inquiry would be conducted into both the incidents.