First Friday of Ramzan peaceful amidst security

HYDERABAD: The first Friday of the holy month of Ramzan passed off peacefully amidst tight security in the city. With Varalakshmi Vratham coinciding with it, the security deployment in the Old City was doubled as compared to a normal Friday. As against the six platoons that are usually deployed on Fridays, 13 platoons and two companies of Rapid Action Force were stationed across the Old City.
At the historic Mecca Masjid that draws the highest crowd during this time of the year, around 10,000 devotees turned up to offer afternoon prayers on the first Friday of the holy month. However, the South Zone police pegged the figure at around 8,000. The Varalakshmi Vratham (performed by married woman for the well being of all the family members) ceremonies started earlier in the day and continued well past the afternoon prayers at the Bh0agyalakshmi temple attached to Charminar. There was a huge crowd at the temple with women turning up in large numbers to perform the puja. However, the activities of the temple did not cause disturbance to the namazis at Mecca Masjid, police said.
As per the standard practice on Fridays, the cops had blocked the route from Government Nizamia Unani Hospital, Charminar towards Mecca Masjid for vehicular traffic. Vehicles going towards Charminar bus stand and Shah Ali Banda were diverted to other connecting roads. The security was also strengthened at Bagh-e-Aam Masjid in Public Gardens. Officials here said that the turnout of namazis at the mosque was approximately 3,000.