Cyberabad Police here today arrested a person for accidentally burning a religious flag in Sikh Chawni area of Kishanbagh in the old city last month, which had led to a communal riot.
Assistant Commissioner of Police A Mutyam Reddy said Mohd Jahangir, a scrap businessman who burns scrap wire to extract copper, burnt a bundle of cable wire in the early hours of May 14 in front of his house, 15 feet away from a spot where a flag stood.
"He carelessly burnt the scrap cable and in the process a piece of burning wire fell on the pedestal of the flag... subsequently the flag was partially burnt," Reddy said.
This led to two men from another community threatening Jahangir with dire consequences. Scared, Jahangir and his family fled from the area, Reddy added.
However, a communal riot broke out over the issue and incidents of arson were reported in Sikh Chawni and Arsh Mahal areas. Three persons were killed in police firing, a curfew was clamped, and 23 persons were arrested.
