HYDERABAD, India — Police say they have arrested a Muslim lawmaker in a southern Indian state for making inflammatory speeches against majority Hindus. Police officer A.B. Venkateshwar Rao says Akbaruddin Owaisi, was arrested Tuesday in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh state. In speeches three weeks earlier he reportedly accused police of bias against Muslims, denigrated Hindu deities and said Muslims could teach the rest of the country a lesson. Owaisi, the leader of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), or the Council of the Union of Muslims, left for London after his remarks and returned to India this week. Police charged him with threatening the security of the nation and promoting enmity between Hindus and Muslims. He faces a possible death sentence if convicted. Earlier, Owaisi was taken to a government hospital here for medical examination after he failed to appear before police and sought more time citing ill-health. A police escort team reached the MLA's house at Banjara Hills and took him to the Gandhi Hospital here, deputy commissioner of police (west zone) G. Sudhir Babu said. Earlier, on Tuesday morning the Nirmal rural police at Adilabad district issued a notice to Akbaruddin to make himself present for the medical examination. Investigating officer A. Raghu had found Akbaruddin fit enough to face police inquiry in connection with the case filed against him for the alleged provocative speech. However, the MIM legislator had informed that he was suffering from pain and had sought four days time to appear before the Nirmal police for questioning. After this, the police had on Monday night decided that he will be subjected to medical examination on Tuesday. “In view of his medical examination police issued a notice to him to come to the Gandhi Hospital where government doctors will carry out his medical examination. Once the medical test is complete, a certificate will be issued and based on it further course of action will be taken,” another senior police officer said. For security reasons, a police escort accompanied him. Akbaruddin has already been issued notices to appear before Nizamabad police Tuesday and also before the Osmania University Police on January 10 in connection with the further probe into the cases registered against him. Owaisi has already approached the Andhra Pradesh high court seeking to quash all the FIRs registered against him at different police stations in the state. Meanwhile, mild tension prevailed outside the Gandhi Hospital as scores of supporters of Akbaruddin Owaisi assembled near the premises and raised anti-government slogans. A five-member medical team led by a cardiologist conducted the medical check-up of Owaisi at the hospital. Additional security forces were also deployed in parts of the Old City as a precautionary measure following speculation that Owaisi would be arrested after his medical tests. Gandhi Hospital superintendent Dr. S. Mahbub said medical examination of Akbaruddin was conducted by a team of five d octors. According to medical report, MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi has adhesions and hernia in abdomen and he can't walk long distances, TV channels reported. “A bullet is there on the lower side of his back,” the medical superintendent said. A rival group “attacked” Akbaruddin in April 2011 over a land dispute issue in Barkas area here. He had sustained bullet injuries in the attack. Meanwhile, protests and demonstrations continued by BJP workers and VHP members at Indira Park and Alwal here and in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts demanding immediate arrest of Owaisi. BJP Nizambad MLA Lakshmi Naryana led a demonstration in Nizamabad and alleged that government was going soft in initiating action against Akbaruddin. Police removed the tents from the dharna camp in Nirmal town when BJP activists tried to hold a dharna. In a related development, Nizamabad Police imposed prohibitory orders in Nizambad town as Owaisi was supposed to appear before them today following issuance of notices in connection with the case booked against him by Nizambad II Town police for his alleged provocative speeches. One of the counsels of Akbaruddin made a representation to the Nizamabad Police and handed over a letter seeking four-day time for appearance of his client before them, a senior police officer said, adding the request has been sent for legal scrutiny and further decision will depend on it. Muslims comprise about 14 percent of India's more than 1 billion people. — Agencies\
