HYDERABAD : Seven voluntary organisations in the city, which formed a fact finding team to report on the December 6 violence in the Old City have blamed political parties for the riots.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the team comprising the members of Confederation Of Voluntary Associations, Human Rights Forum, Coalition for Peace and Harmony, Sakshi Human Rights Watch, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and Anveshi said while one party observed a protest day the other celebrated it as a ‘Showrya Divas’.

Police intelligence has failed to understand the tense situation and the lurking fear that was looming in Old City at least 15 days prior to the Black Day., they said The police pickets should not have been withdrawn at 6 pm on the Black Day and firing without proper assessment, supervision and guidance by a superior officer worsened the situation, they said. It said neither the district administration nor the police could effectively negate the spreading rumours and restore confidence in people.

The two earlier commissions Krishna Rao commission and Ramana Chary commission, who made suggestions to improve the situation in the Old City should be examined and implemented, they said.

The team also said the government should pay at least Rs 2 lakh compensation each to the dependents of the persons killed in the violence..

</D< div>