Hyderabad: The Cyberabad police on Sunday, February 2 revealed that it has rescued 924 children under Operation Smile-XI.
As part of the special drive conducted in January, 61 girls have been rescued. 11 teams were constituted by the Cyberabad police which rescued children engaged in labour, begging, rag picking, etc.
Many of the rescued children belong to other states, including Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Cases were also registered against the persons using children for labour and begging. The rescued children were produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and later sent to various shelter homes.
Operation Smile was initiated by women and children safety wing (WCSW) and the anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU).
Informing of their approach towards identifying missing children, the deputy commissioner of police (WCSW), Cyberabad, K Srujana said, “The team will use facial recognition software application called ‘Darpan’ for identifying missing and unidentified children, and those who were separated from their families due to various reasons.”
Hyderabad: Students from engineering colleges in Hyderabad who are aiming for IT jobs are facing challenges during campus placements this year.
Unlike previous years, when IT giants dominated campus recruitments, the current placement season in engineering colleges has seen startups becoming the primary recruiters.
Core engineering students at Hyderabad colleges struggle to get IT jobs
Students of core engineering (Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical) who used to get IT jobs during campus placements in earlier years are struggling to get into the IT sector.
Speaking to Siasat.com, Dr. D. Suman, Training and Placement Officer, University College of Engineering, Osmania University, said that many companies prefer to hire candidates from Computer Science and allied branches.
Amid current trends, core engineering students at Hyderabad colleges are opting for jobs at core companies even at lower salaries.
However, the officer expressed hope and stated that a few months are still left for the campus placement season of the current year to conclude.
Packages being offered
Despite the challenges, students from centrally funded technical institutes in Hyderabad and other districts of Telangana are still securing competitive salary packages.
The average annual salary offered at these institutes ranges between Rs. 15 lakh and Rs. 18 lakh. On the other hand, graduates from state-run universities like Osmania University are receiving lower package offers.
Though students at engineering colleges in Hyderabad aiming for IT jobs are facing challenges, four months are still left for the campus placement season to conclude.
Hyderabad: A man was found dead in Hyderabad’s Balanagar under mysterious circumstances on Sunday, February 2.
The deceased was identified as 32-year-old Srinivas, a resident of Balanagar, who worked at a chemical factory in the Rudraram industrial area. On Sunday afternoon, the burnt body of the man was found at his residence.
As they noticed a fire in the house, locals informed the fire department, and a team of firefighters doused the blaze. Speaking to Siasat.com, the Balanagar police said, “Srinivas was working at a chemical factory, he was distressed over financial and personal issues and we suspect he died by suicide.”
The Balanagar inspector further added the cause of the fire is unknown since Srinivas’s room was completely burnt and no evidence could be traced. A case of suspicious death has been registered under section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanahita (BNSS).
Hyderabad: The Telangana government will table the caste survey report in the Assembly during the special session called on February 4 (Tuesday).
The state Cabinet will meet before the Assembly session to approve the caste survey report, which revealed that the Backward Classes (BCs) account for 56.33 per cent of the state’s population, of whom 10.08 per cent are BC Muslims.
After the debate on the caste survey report, the Assembly is also expected to pass a resolution urging the Union government to amend the Constitution to exceed the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the Supreme Court.
According to the report of the Socio-Economic, Education, Employment, Political and Caste Survey, 17.43 per cent of the population are Scheduled Castes (SCs), 10.45 per cent Scheduled Tribes (STs) and 12.56 per cent Muslims, of which 2.48 per cent are Other Caste (OC) Muslims. The OCs make up 13.31 per cent of the total population.
The comprehensive door-to-door household survey covered 3,54,77,554 people and 1,12,15,134 families. Of the total population covered, 50.51 per cent were male and 49.45 per cent female.
In absolute numbers, the population of Backward Classes (BC) in the state is 1,99,85,767, including 35,76,588 BC Muslims. The SC population is 61,84,319 and the ST population is 37,05,929. The OC population in Telangana is 44,21,115. The survey reveals that the Muslim population in the state is 44,57,012.
Officials said 96.9 per cent of the households in the state were covered during the 50-day-long survey. According to the report, 16 lakh people (3.1 per cent) opted out due to various reasons. The enumerators found 1.03 lakh houses locked. As many as 1.68 lakh families were hesitant to participate.
The report was reviewed by the Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, who termed the survey historic. He claimed that the survey laid the foundation for comprehensive social justice.
Telangana became the third state in the country after Bihar and Karnataka to conduct a caste survey to determine caste-wise demographics. The survey has been conducted in line with top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s idea of “jitni abadi, utna haq” (rights proportionate to population).
The caste survey was one of the promises made by the Congress in Telangana in its election manifesto in 2023.
The survey was undertaken by the state’s Planning Department after a resolution to that effect was passed in the Assembly on February 4, 2024. “Exactly a year later, the Cabinet will be approving the survey report,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
The survey was conducted by deploying 94,863 enumerators and 9,628 supervisors across 94,261 enumeration blocks. A total of 76,000 data entry operators digitised the information within 36 days.
Hyderabad: The Telangana government has announced a holiday for Shab-e-Barat which is observed on the 15th of Shaban, the eighth month in the Islamic calendar.
Although the state government, in its calendar, announced a holiday for Shab-e-Meraj on February 14, it has been listed under optional holidays and not as a general one.
As the moon has already been sighted, it is confirmed that the holiday will be observed next Friday.
Shab-e-Barat
Shab-e-Barat, also known as the “Night of Forgiveness,” is celebrated with great fervor across the world.
In the evening, many people visit the graves of their loved ones, and some also observe fasting on Shab-e-Barat.
Some Telangana schools to observe holiday on Shab-e-Barat
Although February 14 is not a general holiday, some schools in the state will remain closed next Friday.
In February, Telangana is going to observe three holidays. Out of them, one is general, and two are optional.
Hyderabad: Two thieves involved in bike theft, who took away vehicles after conning the owners on the pretext of a test drive, were arrested by the Bachupally police on Monday, February 3, the police recovered six bikes worth Rs 4 lakh from them.
The arrested persons are Ramesh Babu and Chandramolu Gundappa, both food delivery executives from Suraram in Quthbullapur. Their associate, P Narasimha, is absconding.
DCP Balanagar Zone Suresh Kumar said that the suspects browsed e-commerce websites and identified customers who posted advertisements to sell their used two-wheelers.
“The gang contacted the seller posing as prospective buyers and on the pretext of a test drive took the vehicles and disappeared. While any one or two gang members commit the offence, the third one observes the surroundings,” said Suresh Kumar.
Hyderabad: Marriages bring joy, celebrations and also a hundred and one responsibilities. Despite your best efforts, adversity seems to strike at the worst possible time. This bride-to-be from Hyderabad experienced her share of misfortune when she accidentally left a bag full of valuables in an auto-rickshaw.
Trying to salvage the situation, she approached Afzalgunj police to register a complaint the same night, on Sunday, February 2. There, detective inspector (DI) Madhu Kumar proved to be her saviour and was able to track down the rickshaw and the bag overnight.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) incumbent Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan hit out at All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi accusing him of orchestrating the alleged demise of Muslim leadership in the country.
Lashing out at the AIMIM chief, Amanatullah Khan made a strong statement saying, “I would like to tell this Hyderabadi (Asaduddin Owaisi)… this is the first time your party is pitted against me, the first time someone has dared to challenge me. For the first time, you have come to Okhla, the only place in India where the largest number of educated Muslims reside. The people of Okhla are smart and will not be influenced by you.”
AAP incumbent Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan has challenged AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi to win the Delhi elections from his constituency. "I will leave this Hyderabadi (Owaisi) in such a condition that he will never dare to talk about Muslim leadership again. He will never set foot… pic.twitter.com/WHSva9Bq88
Amanatullah Khan’s statement comes in response to Asaduddin Owaisi’s allegations accusing the AAP of failing to facilitate any development in Okhla over the past decade. While campaigning in poll-bound Delhi Owaisi said, “For 10 years, Kejriwal’s MLA hasn’t done anything here, and now the people are angry. We’re seeing a positive shift this time because the people of Okhla are tired of the neglect. We will win in this constituency.”
In a sharp reaction, Amanatullah Khan challenged the Hyderabad MP to win the elections. “I will leave this Hyderabadi (Asaduddin Owaisi) in such a condition that he will never dare to talk about Muslim leadership again. He will never set foot in Okhla again,” he said.
He accused Owaisi’s strategy of fielding candidates in Muslim-dominated areas which could lead to a split of votes between the Congress and AAP, directly benefitting the BJP.
“For the past 15 days, you and your party leaders have been campaigning trying to win the voters’ hearts. I have been called several derogatory names such as dalal and on other occasions, they allege my bail will be rejected and so on,” the AAP MLA said targeting Asaduddin Owaisi.
With only two days until the high-stakes seventh Delhi Legislative Assembly elections scheduled to take place on February 5, tensions run high as political parties push hard to woo voters.
Among the three main parties; AAP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress – battling for Delhi, AIMIM has fielded also its candidates – Shifa Ur Rehman for Okhla and Tahir Hussain for Mustafabad constituencies – a move that may not look good for AAP.
Once a quiet suburb on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Kokapet is now emerging as a vibrant destination, driven by rapid urban development and an influx of IT professionals. With high-rise apartments, luxury villas, and a booming corporate presence reshaping the area, the culinary landscape is evolving just as fast.
From upscale fine-dining restaurants to cosy cafes and street food joints, Kokapet caters to a diverse crowd that craves both indulgence and convenience. Whether you’re looking for a gourmet meal, a quick snack, or a trendy café to work from, this fast-growing neighbourhood has something for everyone.
What was once a food scene limited to a few eateries has now transformed into a dynamic mix of fine-dining restaurants, trendy cafes, and street food spots. As Kokapet evolves into one of Hyderabad’s prime residential and commercial hubs, food entrepreneurs have been quick to tap into the growing demand. Well-established brands are expanding into the area, while new ventures are launching with innovative menus.
Unlike older parts of the city, where traditional flavours dominate, Kokapet’s dining scene is defined by its versatility. Multi-cuisine restaurants, artisanal bakeries, and experimental fusion kitchens are becoming the norm, reflecting the cosmopolitan crowd residing here. Weekend brunch spots, rooftop dining experiences, and late-night dessert cafes are also on the rise, catering to the lifestyle of young professionals.
This rapid growth isn’t limited to dine-in spaces—cloud kitchens and delivery-only brands have also found a strong foothold here, serving the work-from-home and on-the-go crowd. Whether it’s a gourmet meal or a quick comfort bite, the sheer variety now available in Kokapet is a testament to its ever-expanding food culture.
Must-try spots at Kokapet
Kokapet is home to a mix of well-known brands making their mark and independent eateries bringing something fresh to the table. Food lovers have plenty to explore here and Siasat.com has curated a list of eateries that are a must-try here.
Hyderabad: The restoration works of Mir Alam Mandi, the 200-year-old vegetable market in Hyderabad’s Old City, have slowed down with the completion of the project nowhere in near sight.
The state government entrusted the task of restoring the historic market to the Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA). The cost of the project is Rs 10.50 crore. The agency had invited and finalised bids for the restoration of the nearly 200-year-old market with works expected to be completed within 18 months.
The works commenced in April 2023, and have been going at a slow pace with several breaks. Official sources said that the QQSUDA does not have adequate funds to foot the bills of the contractors and hence the works were slowed down.
As a part of the project, the authorities will take up works related to the structural stability of the market and as a part of the exercise, the Mir Alam Mandi arch/kaman will also be strengthened keeping in mind the traffic and population density of that area in the coming years.
Remodelling the stormwater drain at the age-old vegetable market in Hyderabad’s Old City, illuminating the entire place using LEDs, restoring the roads, and setting up a transformer for an uninterrupted power supply are the other works that are on anvil.
The 200-year-old bustling market which epitomises a glorious past is spread over a five-acre parcel of land and consists of 43 shops that are operated by around 300 vendors.
The Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MAUD) officials had planned to restore the Nizam-era market to its original grandeur and preserve its historical significance.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HYDRAA) launched a demolition drive in Shamshabad, Ranga Reddy district on Monday, February 3 following multiple complaints about illegal encroachments.
In response to the complaints, HYDRAA demolished the fencing and shed that was illegally occupying a 998-square-yard park in Southern Paradise, Sri Sampath Nagar.
Additionally, in Ootpally village’s Cape Town-2 Colony, a complaint about a wall encroaching on a 33-foot road led to its demolition.
Earlier, HYDRAA had resumed the demolition of illegal encroachments near Ameenpur Pedda Cheruvu following public complaints received during the ‘Prajavani’ program at Buddha Bhavan.
Complainants alleged that a local politician had encroached on their plots and developed a layout near the lake, with claims that the politician illegally sold these plots, leading to ongoing legal disputes since 2006.
Officials confirmed that due to these repeated violations, a First Information Report (FIR) will be filed at the local police station regarding the ongoing dispute.
HYDRAA receives 78 complaints during Prajavani
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on January 27, received 78 complaints during Prajavani. On January 21, the agency received 85 complaints regarding encroachment at various locations in Hyderabad.
The agency has been accepting public grievances from across Hyderabad. One of the complainants who approached HYDRAA on Monday said, “I am Murlidhar Reddy, in 1986 I purchased a plot at Badangpet village. However, Anand Reddy occupied the plot and raised a compound wall. I raised complaints regarding the issues at some municipal offices, however, it didn’t help.”
Reddy added that he approached HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath, who assured him he would resolve the issue. He demanded that the plot be reclaimed as early as possible. A few other complainants also raised issues and hoped that their issues would be resolved.
Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha on Monday, February 3, demanded that the Telangana government put up the caste survey data for public review and provide 15 days for those who had not registered their details.
“Besides putting the data for public review, the government should go for local body elections with 56.3 percent reservations including 46.3 BCs and 10 percent Muslims,” Kavitha said alleging that the caste survey in Telangana by the Congress government is a farce.
“Since the Congress government came to power, we have been asking for welfare schemes and benefits for the Backward Classes. However, the caste survey conducted in Telangan is not up to the mark,” Kavitha said.
The BRS MLC went on to say that several people from across Telangana expressed concerns over not being approached by the officials for the caste survey. She added that such concerns by people are the basis of suspicion over the legitimacy of the survey.
According to the 2011 census, Telangana had 83 lakh houses and a population of 3.50 crore. In the Samagra Kutumba Survey conducted by the then BRS government in 2014, the number of houses rose to 1.3 crore, while the population increased to 3.68 crore.
However, according to the current government’s survey, there are 1.15 crore houses and a population of 3.70 crore.
While the number of houses went up by 20 lakh within four years from 2011 to 2014, the latest survey notes only 12 lakh houses in the last 10 years.
“Hence there are doubts about the survey as it doesn’t show the exact number of households increased,” said the MLC. “The survey conducted by the Centre under the National Health Mission suggests that there are about 50-56.5 percent Backward Class people in Telangana. However, the caste census conducted by the Telangana government reveals that there are only 46.2 percent BCs.”
Kavitha also expressed doubts over the increase in OC population to 15.3 percent (13.3 percent Hindus OCs and 2 percent Muslims OCs) from 8 percent in 2014. “If the OC population went up, the population of BC, SC, STs and Minorities should also go up.”
“If chief minister A Revanth Reddy was sincere, the Congress government should go for a public review and put the details of 3.50 crore people on the website for public scrutiny,” said Kavitha.
Kavitha’s concerns come a day after the Telangana government revealed the data of the caste census on February 2.
Caste Census in Telangana
The caste census revealed that 46.25 percent (1,64,09,179 people) of the state’s population belongs to the Backward Class.
The Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political, and Caste (SEEEPC) survey released by state civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday, February 2, surveyed 3,54,77,554 individuals in Telangana.
According to the survey, the Scheduled Castes (SCs) comprise 17.43 percent (61,84,319) and Scheduled Tribes of 10.45 percent (37,05,929) of Telangana’s population. The report would be presented before the state cabinet on February 4 and would be placed before a special session of the legislative Assembly for debate.
Hyderabad: As curtains fall for the Delhi election campaign on Monday, February 3, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) keeps its fingers crossed after a month-long campaigning
The party has fielded Shifa Ur Rehman for Okhla and Tahir Hussain for Mustafabad constituencies. While Rehman is a former president of the Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association, Hussain was a former Aam Admi Party (AAP) councillor.
Tahir Hussain was arrested five years ago under the draconian Unlawful Activities [Prevention] Act in connection with the infamous 2020 Delhi riots. He was recently granted parole by the Supreme Court to campaign for the Delhi elections.
Shifa Ur Rehman is also accused in the Delhi riots case and has been in prison since April 2020. He faces alleged charges of a pre-planned conspiracy to incite riots in North East Delhi while being the president of Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association. He was also granted parole by a Delhi court to campaign.
AIMIM has made sure no stone is left unturned for the Assembly elections. Party president Asaduddin Owaisi and Delhi election in charge and former MP Imtiyaz Jaleel campaigned strongly via numerous public meetings, road corner meetings and paidal daura (campaign on foot) supported by social media outreach initiatives.
The party had planned to contest more seats but sources said it was confined to two – Mustafabad and Okhla – constituencies with a large number of Muslim population and better chances of winning
AAP has fielded Okhla incumbent MLA Amanathullah Khan and Adil Ahmad Khan will be contesting from Mustafabad.
Delhi has an electorate of 1.55 crore but the exact number of Muslim population is not clearly mentioned.
In the 2011 census, Muslims made up around 12.9 percent of Delhi’s population. Analysts believe this could have gone up to 15-18 percent. Muslims have a sizable vote in at least seven of the 70 constituencies. On several of the other seats, they could have a critical impact on the results.
Hyderabad: An institution or place inherently becomes our heritage when over a period of time it adds value to our communities. And one such place that has become important in that manner over the last three decades is Sajjad Sweets at Darul Shifa, which unfortunately has also come in the crosshairs of the metro rail’s expansion in the Old City of Hyderabad.
The shop, which is trusted by a lot of households in and around Darul Shifa for supplying good quality sweets, especially during the month of Muharram, is also unfortunately slated for demolition to pave way for the Hyderabad metro rail. While it is unsure when the demolition works will begin, about 30 feet inward from the shop has been marked for the metro along with others on the same side.
“Sajjad sweets is a trusted place in the Old City at Darul Shifa especially for all religious events like Muhammaram and other times. People take Tabarruk also from here,” said Asif Ali, who stays in the area. The shop was started about 30 years ago by his father.
Syed Faraz, son of the proprietor, said that people often take huge parcels of food items abroad from Sajjad Sweets regularly. “Someone recently took 20 kilos of Tabarruk (food) to Chicago. We started international services 18 years ago due to demand from customers. We supply food items for important Majlis’ take takes place here,” he told Siasat.com.
Apart from the sweet shop, other important places like the the 173-year-old Munshi Naan is also slated to be razed for the Hyderabad Metro Rail in the Old City. The owners of Sajjad Sweets are now looking to rent a new place for their store, and are worried as they may not be able to find a place once they get a notice to vacate for demolition.
Since they are not the property owners, tenants such as themselves will be left in the lurch if they are not able to find a new place and restart their businesses. “One of the reasons why Sajjad Sweets is important is because it is a very trusted place. Lot of homes make sure that since food comes for religious events, it is made in a hygienic way. This is a very important factor and is what makes that sweet shop important,” said another local from Darul Shifa.
Hyderabad metro in Old City to pass via Darul Shifa – Purani Haveli
Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy on September 29, 2024, approved the Metro Rail’s phase II corridors which includes the metro’s lines connecting Hyderabad to the airport, and also a line connecting the Chandrayangutta to MGBS line for the Old City.
A total of 116.2 kilometres has been approved for the new corridors. The line to the airport will pass via the Aramghar. The Metro Rail for the Old City in Hyderabad will essentially pass via the Darul Shifa – Purani Haveli area, affecting some of the historical monuments along the route. The affected monuments belong mainly to the Shia Muslim community. Aside from that, Munshi Naan will be demolished for the road expansion.
Hyderabad: Telangana transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar inaugurated multiple development projects worth Rs 10.09 crore in Hyderabad on Monday, February 3. The projects included a Children’s Learning and Play Park at Jubilee Hills for Rs 32 lakh, NFC Junction development for Rs 2.82 crore, beautification of Hyderabad flyovers for Rs 3.80 crore, and Somajiguda Junction enhancement for Rs 3.15 crore.
Speaking at the event, minister Ponnam Prabhakar mentioned plans for citywide junction improvements, vertical gardens under flyovers, and artistic paintings to inspire future generations. The Minister assured that drinking water, street lighting, and sanitation issues would be continuously reviewed and resolved.
GHMC commissioner Ilambarthi stated that sanitation improvement measures are being implemented alongside beautification efforts of Hyderabad flyovers. He noted that strict vigilance has been established to curb the illegal dumping of construction waste, with challans worth approximately Rs. 42 lakh issued to violators. Further, dustbins are being installed in commercial and business complexes to address waste management concerns.
By this April, the 1.2 km long, bidirectional six-lane flyover from the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to Hyderabad’s Kondapur is likely to be completed. Once functional, the flyover will reduce the traffic congestion at the Gachibowli junction and improve connectivity between Hitec City and the Financial District.
In addition to these flyovers in the Old City of Hyderabad, the construction of the Malakpet Road Under Bridge (RuB) is underway to ease traffic flow. This new structure, adjacent to the existing RuB, measures 37 meters in length and 11 meters in width. It includes approach roads to create a seamless connection between Nalgonda Crossroads and Kanchanbagh Road. This development is expected to resolve decades-old traffic challenges for commuters travelling from Dilsukhnagar to Koti.
Hyderabad: A series of episodes shedding light on women’s safety in metro cities of India captures the stark contrast in a recent feature showcasing how safe is Hyderabad.
Hauterrfly, a lifestyle website produces a segment called 2 am stories. One of its broadcasts captures the unsettling reality of women in Hyderabad navigating the city at night, shedding light on issues of safety, infrastructure, and public behaviour.
The episode stars the associate editor of Hauterrfly, Janvi Manchanda, who begins her journey at Durgam Cheruvu Lake around 8:30 pm finding the area mostly deserted, possibly being a weekday. She highlights the absence of streetlights on the footpath raising a significant concern.
Janvi then takes the Hyderabad Metro but is taken aback by the near absence of female commuters. Its not even 10 pm. She points out that the women’s coach lacks a proper partition and dedicated security personnel, which could deter women from using public transport at night.
The situation intensifies when Janvi steps out of the station to find an auto-rickshaw. As she waits, a man on a two-wheeler repeatedly circles her, persistently asking, “Kahi chalna hai madam?” The unsettling encounter leaves her shaken.
Expressing concern over such incidents, Janvi questions, “If a woman in Hyderabad is travelling late at night in the metro or waiting for an auto, should she have to face this?” She wonders what would have happened had her media team was not present and she was all alone.
Janvi’s journey continues through other parts of Hyderabad where men shout from bikes and make inappropriate remarks. She questions the deep-seated bias against women travelling late stating, “Women who commute for work are assumed to be something else. How is that right?”
‘Never felt unsafe despite the crowd in Charminar’
It is 11:30 pm now and Janvi is in Hyderabad’s Charminar. The anxiety she endured all this while took a positive turn after witnessing a buzzing environment with several vibrant shops open and families men, and of course women shopping and clicking pictures with the monument.
She described feeling at ease amidst the crowd. “Even though it was crowded, never did I once feel unsafe,” she said.
Government safety initiatives fall short
Janvi tested government initiatives aimed at ensuring women’s safety in Hyderabad. One such initiative, the T-Safe app, which is designed to track a user’s location when travelling in cabs, was found to be unavailable on iOS devices.
Additionally, the SHE Teams page which allows women to scan QR codes in public spaces to file complaints, failed to function. Upon scanning a QR code, the app did not work as intended, raising questions about the execution of these safety measures.
When Siasat.com tried to scan the QR code to verify Janvi’s claims, a message appeared after several minutes, stating, “This site cannot be reached.”
Hooliganism on the rise in Hyderabad?
At 1:00 am, Janvi reached Necklace Road, a popular destination for night-time visitors in Hyderabad. She described that the atmosphere was starkly different with the area seemingly dominated by men and no women in sight. “Maybe they were uncomfortable assuming what a woman is doing out here so late, it was that gaze,” she said.
She also highlighted the discomfort of being watched, adding, “Men are not used to seeing women outside the house.” One particularly unsettling moment occurred when a man deliberately put on the brakes of his vehicle in front of the group, only to speed off when confronted.
Janvi also mentioned more incidents of hooliganism on Necklace Road with men riding motorbikes in triples, honking, whistling, and turning to smile at her. She expressed concerns about the safety of women in Hyderabad visiting such areas late at night and cautioned against travelling alone or in groups after dark. “As a tourist, you can visit here maybe in the early evening or early morning, but I wouldn’t advise coming alone at night,” she added.
Her journey then took her to Shamshabad toll plaza at 2:30 am, a location marked by the tragic 2019 rape and murder of a female doctor, Disha. The 26-year-old veterinary doctor had been conned by four men who offered help after claiming her scooter had a flat tyre. She was then raped and throttled near a parked truck, her body was later found burnt in an underpass near the Hyderabad-Bangalore highway. The four men responsible for the crime were killed by police during a so-called crime scene reconstruction.
‘Never felt safe’
Reflecting on her experience so far, Janvi pointed out several infrastructure gaps. While areas like HiTech City known for its offices and clubs were well-lit, many older parts of Hyderabad lacked proper lighting. Additionally, she noted the absence of public toilets for women raising the question, “What are tourists and women travelling supposed to do when they need to use the washroom?”
She also expressed concerns about police presence at night. “Most of the time, police are not patrolling, and when they do, they are busy shutting down the city, closing the eateries that remain open late. It feels like they’re locking people inside their houses” she stated.
Summing up her experience, Janvi observed, “I have understood one thing about people here—they aren’t bothered about women. At night, not many women are seen on the streets of Hyderabad, and people don’t know how to behave.”
She concluded, “As a woman, I wouldn’t step out alone here because I never felt safe.”
Hyderabad women share similar stories of safety
Reacting to the video, many users shared similar experiences. One user, a Hyderabad resident, commented, “As someone from Hyderabad, I want to address the issue of washrooms for women in public places. While it’s true that there aren’t many, if you search carefully, there are some options. I wouldn’t recommend single women visiting certain places, but well-equipped petrol pumps offer washroom facilities. Though there aren’t many, there are a few spots where women can find washrooms. Government-owned washrooms exist, but they don’t operate late at night.”
Another user, also from Hyderabad shared, “I think this video shows more reality than people generally perceive. The areas you featured are actually unsafe, especially for women at night. Some places like Necklace Road and MG Metro Station are unsafe even during the day, particularly for women travelling alone. I often travel late at night using public transport, and I can confirm this video is quite real and accurately portrays the current state of Hyderabad.”
A male user agreed, stating, “Absolutely correct. I’m a male, and I would say it’s tough for men to travel alone too. While women face this kind of treatment, men also get harassed—whether it’s getting slapped or attacked by people on bikes or dealing with drunk people on two-wheelers.”
However, some users criticized the video’s analysis, with one writing, “This is a baseless analysis. You don’t know anything about Hyderabad, so stop making fake videos for views. Hyderabad has everything you claimed you couldn’t find.” Many other users also chimed in, urging, “Don’t make fake videos.”
Hyderabad: Disclosing only Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha participated in the Telangana caste survey in party chief K Chandrashekar Rao’s (KCR) family, state BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar advised her to question her family regarding their abstention.
Speaking with media in Hyderabad on Monday, February 3, Ponnam said that if KCR wanted justice for the Backward Class, he should be present in the Assembly on February 4 when the caste survey report will be tabled. He clarified no special invitation will be sent to KCR to attend the Assembly.
Pointing out that leaders of major political parties did not participate in the Telangana caste census, Ponnam said those who missed the survey can still give their details to their respective mandal officials. Moreover, Opposition parties can express apprehensions on the survey during the assembly session.
Calling Telangana’s caste survey a historic programme that was taken up as a movement, the minister asked Congress cadres and Backward Class associations to celebrate in all district headquarters on Tuesday.
Pointing out that some people tried their best to oppose the caste survey in Telangana by launching attacks on government officials, Ponnam said the Congress government was not one “which would keep the survey reports inside an almirah to further its hidden agenda.”
Hyderabad: The scrutiny of restaurants in Hyderabad continues as the food safety department’s team conducted raids on Monday, February 3 at Indian Durbar Restaurant in Narayanaguda and Hotel Ashoka in Lakdikapul.
Violations found during raids at restaurants in Hyderabad
At Indian Durbar Restaurant in Narayanaguda, the food safety team noted several hygiene and food safety violations including food handlers operating without aprons, boiled eggs stored near drains uncovered, and a severe cockroach infestation in the kitchen.
Further violations included food items in the fridge without preparation or expiry dates, rotten vegetables discarded due to fungal infestations, and sanitary items stored alongside food. Synthetic food colours were observed in use, and expired items, such as masala powder and flavoured syrups were discarded.
Task force team has conducted inspections in Narayanaguda area on 03.02.2025.
𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗱𝗮
* Food handlers were found without aprons in kitchen area.
— Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana (@cfs_telangana) February 3, 2025
At Ashoka restaurant in Hyderabad’s Lakdikapul, the food safety team noted that the kitchen was found in poor condition with untidy walls, a foul odour, and a cockroach infestation. Rusty vessels were discovered in both the kitchen and refrigerator and synthetic food colors were used in prepared dishes.
The inspection also uncovered rotten brinjal and cauliflower, which were promptly discarded. Despite more than 140 employees on-site, the hotel lacked a FoSTaC trained supervisor. Expired food items, including rosemary and curry-cut chicken, were found and discarded.
𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗸𝗮, 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗹 03.02.2025
* Kitchen walls and floor were found to be untidy. Foul smell observed.
* Cockroach infestation was observed in the kitchen.
* Vessels in kitchen and refrigerator were found to be rusty.
During an inspection at Kiskhindha Kitchen, the food safety team observed that water analysis reports, Fostac certificates, and employee medical records were not provided. The kitchen was found in poor hygiene conditions, with refrigerators containing food waste and clogged drains. Semi-prepared food and raw materials were stored together, while vegetables such as lemons and potatoes were spoiled.
At Poshnoosh Lounge and Bar, the food safety team noted that the restaurant in Hyderabad was operating with an expired license. Essential documents like water analysis reports, pest control records, Fostac certificates, and medical records of employees were missing.
The food safety department has been actively addressing hygiene issues in food outlets noting common violations such as improper labelling, unsafe consumption practices, and the lack of medical certificates among food handlers. Inspectors have also found food businesses with uncovered bins, insect infestations particularly cockroaches or rats and spoiled vegetables. Another recurring violation was the failure of food handlers to wear gloves during food preparation.
Hyderabad: A total of 44 complaints were received during the Prajavani hearing held at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) headquarters on Monday, February 3.
Of the 44 complaints, the town planning department received 22, the tax and finance departments received 4, the engineering (maintenance) department received 3, the sanitation, veterinary, and housing departments received 3 each, and the land administration received 1, among others.
A total of 86 applications were received in the six zones under the GHMC’s jurisdiction. Out of these, 45 were received in the Kukatpally zone, 10 in the Secunderabad zone, 20 in the Serilingampally zone, 6 in the Charminar zone, 4 in the LB Nagar zone, and 1 in the Khairatabad zone.
GHMC commissioner Ilambarthi participated in the Prajavani grievance redressal programme organized at its headquarters and received grievances from across the city. He instructed the concerned officials to resolve the issues as early as possible.
Speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner directed the officials to make special efforts to resolve the problems of Hyderabadis. Officials were instructed to send a written reply to the petitioner explaining the number of days it would take to resolve the issues.
He cautioned the officials of zero tolerance towards any delay in resolving the grievances of the public.
Four requests received through the Prajavani phone-in programme were forwarded to the departments concerned for prompt resolution.
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy was known to have expressed his anguish against the ministers for releasing the details of the caste census, and the Backward Class (BC) census data to the media before the approval of the state cabinet.
The report was released by irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday, February 1.
It has been learnt that BC associations and leaders within ruling Congress itself reportedly felt that the report was full of mistakes. The findings show that the population of BCs has declined as compared to the past.
Because of the opposition coming from all quarters against the contents of the report, the minister were believed to have postponed the press meet that was supposed to be held on Monday, February 2, after the meeting on SC sub-categorization.
It may also be noted that within the Congress, chief minister Revanth Reddy and irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy (who was earlier the state Congress president) have never gotten along. It is also no secret that Uttam has also been eyeing the top post as well, along others.
The much-anticipated caste survey in Telangana is finally over. The findings reveal an astonishing 46.25 percent (1,64,09,179 people) of the state’s population belongs to the Backward Class. The Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political, and Caste (SEEEPC) survey released by state civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday, February 2 covered 96.9 households in Telangana and surveyed 3,54,77,554 individuals.
According to the survey, the Scheduled Castes (SCs) comprise 17.43 percent (61,84,319) and Scheduled Tribes of 10.45 per cent (37,05,929) of Telangana’s population.
Muslim population in Telangana
Shedding light on the Muslim population in Telangana, the caste survey revealed 44,57,012 people are from the minority community constituting 12.56 percent of the total population. Among them, 35,76,588 belong to the Backward Class (BC) amounting to 10.08 percent while 2.48 percent are Other Castes (OC) with 8,80,424 individuals.
