Prophet Remarks Row: Over 400 Held in Several States After Friday Stir; Sec 144 Imposed in Ghaziabad

Police forces in several states clamped down on those involved in the violent aftermath of the June 10 protests that erupted over controversial remarks about Prophet Muhammad, with over 400 people arrested on the second day. In Uttar Pradesh, authorities ran a “bulldozer campaign” by razing “illegal” houses of those accused of “masterminding” the violence even as Jharkhand restored internet services.

After violence boiled over in West Bengal’s Howrah district on Saturday, similar incidents were reported from Nadia. Prohibitory orders continued in parts of Howrah and Murshidabad. Uttar Pradesh, meanwhile, has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC in Ghaziabad till August 10 to control the “law and order situation”.

As many as 316 have been arrested in eight districts of UP and 100 in West Bengal. In Ranchi, police have filed 25 FIRs against those responsible for clashes that left two dead and scores injured on June 10.

In many states, security was tightened and restrictions imposed after people took to the streets. In many districts, incidents of stone-pelting and clashes with security personnel were reported, demanding the arrest of now-expelled BJP functionaries Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.

WEST BENGAL

After incidents of violence from Howrah, Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas, a group of people attacking and damaging a local train at Bethuadahari railway station in Nadia was reported. Train services on that line were disrupted for around two hours and 10 people were detained, a police officer told PTI.

The officer said over 1,000 demonstrators threw stones, damaged houses and tried to block roads. A section of the protesters went inside the railway station and attacked a train waiting on a platform, the officer added.

Mobs also vandalised another railway station in the district at Dhubulia. Some employees and passengers were left injured, an official of the Eastern Railway said.

In Purba Medinipur district, police prevented opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari from visiting violence-hit areas. Adhikari has said he will move court on Monday.

UTTAR PRADESH

Police have imposed prohibitory orders in Ghaziabad till August 10. After chief minister Yogi Adityanath vowed “stern” action against rioters, authorities in Prayagraj ran bulldozers over “illegal” properties of Javed Ahmed, the main accused in the violent clashes in the city.

Additional director general of police (law and order) Prashant Kumar said 13 cases had been registered and 316 people arrested from eight districts.

JHARKHAND

Internet services were restored in Ranchi after close to 33 hours even as Rapid Action Force, anti-terrorism squad, special task force and district police remained deployed at strategic locations, including 38 identified vulnerable pockets.

Police staged a flag march in East Singhbhum and imposed prohibitory orders in adjoining Seraikela-Kharswan as a precautionary measure.

Family members of Mohammad Mudassir Alam and Mohammad Sahil, who died of gunshot wounds, claimed that they were not a part of the protests.

Asked about police firing, Ranchi SSP Surendra Kumar Jha said the standard operating procedures were adhered to. “Firing is the last resort. We followed all norms before resorting to firing, as the crowd was aggressive and uncontrollable. I don’t want to talk much on this as the matter is under investigation,” he said.

ASSAM

Section 144 was also imposed in Assam Cachar district after a group took to the streets in Sonai and burnt an effigy of Sharma. On Saturday morning, members of a club had assembled chanting slogans against the former BJP leader. Cachar SP and DIG Southern Range took action by imposing prohibitory orders in the area.

MAHARASHTRA

Backlash and court complaints against Sharma and Jindal have continued. Many cases have been registered against them and others for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Police in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi has issued a summons to Sharma to record her statement on Monday, while Jindal has also been summoned on June 15. Earlier, Sharma had been asked to appear in Thane on June 22 while the Mumbai Police summoned her on June 25.

NO END TO POLITICAL TUSSLE

Accusations of high-handedness by opposition parties against the ruling BJP, and demands to arrest now-expelled BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal have continued as political parties attack each other.

The Samajwadi Party said the ruling BJP had been “high-handed” in dealing with protesters. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said the prime minister should have spoken and acted immediately after the offensive remarks, also condemned by Islamic countries sharing a good ties with India.

Union information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur, however, said law and order was a state subject and there should be strict action against rioters. “There is no place for violence in a democracy. Everybody should get an opportunity to put his point of view in a democracy. And when the problems can be resolved through talks, then there is no place for stone-pelting, arson and unruly behaviour,” he said.

(With PTI inputs)

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