Hyderabad: Kamatipura Police arrested 11 accused on Monday, in connection with the Puranapool communal incident, involving an unlawful assembly that raised provocative slogans and damaged property, disturbing public tranquillity.
Police said the arrests followed an investigation into a communal offence at Puranapool Chilla. The accused were produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody. Efforts were underway to trace and arrest other absconding accused linked to the case.
The incident was triggered on January 15, 2026, at about 11:30 pm, when one accused entered the Puranapool Darwaza Mysamma Temple and partially damaged a flexi banner and a POP idol in the temple veranda. Subsequently, certain persons formed an unlawful assembly and damaged the chilla, police said. Based on a complaint, Kamatipura Police registered a case under Crime No. 12/2026.
CCTV analysis led to arrests in Puranapool communal incident
During the probe into the Puranapool communal incident, police analysed CCTV footage and technical evidence, which helped identify several accused. Those arrested included Choukat Shanker @ Bolu, Choukat Abhishek, Kaliwale Kushal Singh @ Kushal, Andhumalla Varun @ Boby, Andhumalla Arun @ Minnu, Choukat Raman @ Nanu, Kaliwala Bhumesh, Esliwala Ganesh, Jaggila Sandeep, Damdi Vishal Singh and Smt. Kali Manju.
All the accused were residents of the Puranapool area and were aged between 19 and 45 years. Police said the accused were involved in damaging property and raising communal slogans. They were sent to judicial custody after being produced before the court.
Following instructions from Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, police intensified patrolling and conducted flag marches in Kamatipura and Bahadurpura. Pickets were also deployed in sensitive areas as part of confidence-building measures. Police appealed to the public to maintain peace, avoid rumours and cooperate in preserving communal harmony.
