Sufi leaders urge DGP to act on shrine vandalism, seek protection of sacred sites

Hyderabad: Prominent Sufi leaders and Islamic scholars met Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) Shivadhar Reddy on Sunday. They urged immediate action against those responsible for the January 15 vandalism at Chilla Mehboob Subhani and adjacent graves near Purana Pool Darwaza.

The delegation condemned the attack as a serious threat to Hyderabad’s communal harmony. In addition, they called for stronger security measures at religious sites, particularly the 400-year-old Dargah Hazrath Moosa Qadri. They warned that such acts undermine the city’s long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence.

In their meeting, the leaders appealed for the protection of sacred sites. Moreover, they assured full cooperation in interfaith dialogue and public outreach to preserve Hyderabad’s pluralistic fabric.

“We trust the government to act decisively and uphold law and order,” the delegation stated. They demanded swift identification and prosecution of the culprits to prevent further unrest.

Among those present were Maulana Syed Mahmood Badshah Qadri, Maulana Dr. Syed Mahmood Safiullah Viqar Pasha, and several other senior religious figures from various Sufi and scholarly traditions. They stressed that safeguarding places of worship was essential to maintaining social peace.

The meeting highlighted growing concern within Hyderabad’s religious communities over rising incidents targeting shared cultural and spiritual spaces.