MIM leader Akbar Owaisi remains critical

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh legislator and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was out of danger but his condition remained critical Sunday, a day after he was stabbed and shot at by his rivals, doctors attending on him said.

After the second intra-abdominal surgery to treat his injuries, the doctors at Care Hospital said his overall condition continued to be critical.

Earlier, the medical bulletin issued by the hospital said the legislator suffered kidney failure and is on ventilator support.

The doctors said they were continuing dialysis due to acute kidney failure cause by the injuries.

The MIM leader suffered injuries to his left kidney, urinary bladder, upper portion of the large intestine and upper limb.

Owaisi was shifted to Care Hospital Saturday night from Owaisi Hospital, where he was admitted soon after the assassination attempt.

The first intra-abdominal surgery was performed on him at Owaisi Hospital.

Earlier, Akbaruddin's elder brother and MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi termed his condition as "very critical" and appealed to people to pray for his recovery.

He said Akbaruddin received two bullets and stab injuries to his left hand.

Former chief minister K. Rosaiah, YSR Congress party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and state minister Shankar Rao visited the hospital.

A large number of MIM activists remained outside the Care Hospital in Banjara Hills, demanding the hospital authorities inform them about the condition of their leader.

An uneasy calm prevailed in the old city of Hyderabad as people voluntarily shut down their businesses as for the second consecutive day. The MIM leadership said it had not called for a shutdown Sunday but most parts of the old city observed partial shutdown.

Akbar was stabbed and shot at by his rivals when he was visiting his assembly constituency Chandrayangutta in the old city.

Security guards of another MIM legislator Ahmed Balala returned fire, killing one attacker and injuring two others. The condition of the two also remained critical.

Police have arrested Mohammed Pehlwan, suspected to be the mastermind behind the attack. He had a long running dispute with the legislator over a piece of land.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police Commissioner A. K. Khan said a four-member team headed by additional commissioner of police (coordination) would probe the incident. The team comprises three deputy commissioners of police.

"The team will conduct the investigations from all angles and will try to find out if was a pre-planned attack," the police chief said.

Khan said the police were questioning a few suspects.

Chandrayangutta police Sunday registered a case on a complaint by a MIM corporator, who was also injured in the attack. The case was later transferred to Central Crime Station, a wing of the city police.

Source: IANS