January 03, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 23, 1428

HYDERABAD, Jan 2: After having returned to normality the city once again witnessed an abrupt closure of businesses in almost all the main markets as rumours of shooting incidents spread here on Wednesday.

The panic was a manifestation of the fact that people are suffering from sense of insecurity despite presence of paramilitary troops in the city since Friday.

The situation had remained normal since on Tuesday as no untoward incident or even aerial shooting was reported from any quarter.

People had started appearing on roads and shopkeepers had opened their shops but with scant number of buyers.

On Wednesday the situation was also quite normal until 2pm but it was at around 2.30pm when city was again hit by rumours.

At around 2.30pm, citizens started running in all direction in panic when rumours spread about aerial shooting in one or the other locality.

Although no untoward incident was reported from any place, shopkeepers had downed their shutters.Within no time shops in Gari Khata, Gul Center, District Council shopping and Cantonment shopping centres, Saddar, Tayyab Complex, Market Tower, Lajpat and Station roads, etc. were closed immediately.

They remained standing in front of their shops despite requests by police officials to open their businesses.

Since then rumours gained currency that people had resorted to aerial firing in Gari Khata, Saddar area or Tilak incline. However, no such incident had taken place.

However, despite the efforts by the DPO Hyderabad to convince businessmen to resume business activity, they didn’t pay heed to his calls.

Police also arrived in different localities after wireless messages were aired by police authorities to ensure that anti-social elements should not take undue advantage of the situation.