As the Uttar Pradesh Government intensified its crackdown against the Muslim protestors on June 11, several members of the ruling BJP, including its state president Swatantra Dev Singh, endorsed using bulldozers to demolish the properties of the accused persons.
The family members of two persons who succumbed to gunshot wounds during Friday’s protests in Ranchi against controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad have claimed they were not a part of the procession that was taken out to condemn the comments. Two people identified as Mohammad Mudassir Kaifi and Mohammad Sahil died and over two dozen people were injured in protests and subsequent clashes that rocked the state capital on Friday over the remarks made by two suspended BJP functionaries against Prophet Mohammad, officials said.
Meanwhile, an uneasy calm prevailed on June 12 in West Bengal’s Howrah district, where Section 144 of CrPc has been clamped in some areas and internet services suspended following violent protests over controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by suspended BJP spokespersons, police said.
Mob attacks train in Bethuadahari railway station in Nadia district
A group of people attacked and damaged a local train at Bethuadahari railway station in West Bengal’s Nadia district on Sunday evening, a police officer said.
It was not immediately known whether there was any casualty.
The group was protesting against controversial remarks of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on Prophet Mohammad.
The officer said a large number of protestors put up a road blockade and when they were chased by the police, some of them entered the station and threw stones at the train which was on a platform.
Train services on the Lalgola line have been affected due to the attack, he said.— PTI
Illegal weapons, objectionable posters recovered from Prayagraj violence accused’s house: Police
Prayagraj police says they recovered two illegal weapons — 12 bore and 315 bore pistols — and objectionable posters from accused Javed Mohammad’s house. Documents also showed he made bitter comments on judiciary, said SSP Prayagraj Ajay Kumar after the administration demolished Javed’s house in connection with the violence during protests against Nupur Sharma on Friday after namaz.
Javed, who deals in water pumps, is an activist associated with the Welfare Party of India. Police claim he was the main instigator in the violence in Prayagraj.
Deceased were not part of protest march in Ranchi, claim families
Family members of the two persons who succumbed to gunshot wounds during protests on June 10 in Ranchi against controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad, have claimed they were not a part of the procession that was taken out to condemn the comments.
Two persons identified as Mohammad Mudassir Alam who was also known as Kaifi, and Mohammad Sahil died while over two dozen people were injured in protests and subsequent clashes that rocked the state capital on June 10 over the remarks made by two suspended BJP functionaries against Prophet Mohammad, officials said.
Mohammad Parvez Alam, the father of Mudassir, said he had no idea how his “minor” son received bullet injuries as he was not a part of the procession.
“Why did they kill my only son? How can I live without him? He just took his matriculation examination this year and his result was to be declared this week,” Mudassir’s inconsolable mother Nikhat Parveen, a resident of Ranchi’s Hindpidi area near Daily Market, told PTI.
Authorities demolish ‘illegally constructed’ house of Prayagraj violence accused
The Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) on Sunday demolished the house of the alleged mastermind of Friday’s violence here amid heavy police deployment.
A day earlier, the properties of two people accused of rioting were demolished in Saharanpur where stone-pelting had taken place as well.
Superintendent of Police, City (Saharanpur), Rajesh Kumar had said the two accused who created ruckus were identified as Muzammil of Rahat Colony and Abdul Vakir of Khata Khedi. Municipal corporation teams bulldozed their illegal properties, he said.
In Prayagraj, a senior PDA official on Sunday said, “Javed Ahmad’s house — JK Ashiyana — is located in the Kareli area of Prayagraj. Police personnel and a JCB machine reached the Kareli police station around 10.30 a.m. and demolition commenced around 1 p.m.” “The house was built without getting its map passed by the PDA. For this, he was issued a notice on May 10 and was told to present his side on May 24. On the given date, neither Javed nor his lawyer turned up. No document was presented as well, and hence on May 25, demolition orders were issued,” he said.
Speaking to PTI, Superintendent of Police (City) Dinesh Kumar Singh said, “In the morning, some family members of Javed Ahmad took some of their belongings, and left the place through the back door. As of now, no one is inside the house.” He said three machines, including two JCBs, were used. The area around the house has been cordoned-off and demolition was carried out, Mr. Singh added.
On Saturday, Senior Superintendent of Police, Prayagraj, Ajay Kumar said that alleged mastermind of the stone-pelting here Javed Ahmad, alias Pump, had been arrested. - PTI
Slew of FIRs filed, security bolstered in tense Ranchi
Tension prevailed in Jharkhand capital Ranchi on Sunday, as police strengthened security in sensitive areas and registered 25 FIRs against "thousands" of people in the aftermath of violent protests over controversial comments on Prophet Mohammad.
Internet services, however, were restored in the district after nearly 33 hours, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan said.
Around 3,500 security personnel are on guard at sensitive areas in Ranchi, where two people were killed and more than two dozen people critically injured, as protests and clashes rocked the city after the Friday prayers.
The protesters have been demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad.
Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Surendra Kumar Jha said personnel of the Rapid Action Force, anti-terrorism squad, special task force and district police have been deputed at strategic locations, including “38 identified vulnerable pockets”.
Fifty motorcycle patrol teams have also been pressed into service.
No place for violence in democracy, says Union minister Thakur
Union minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said there is "no place for violence in a democracy", apparently referring to recent violent protests in several parts of the country against the controversial remarks of suspended BJP functionary Nupur Sharma on Prophet Mohammad.
Cases have been registered in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra and other states where people held massive protests after Friday prayers demanding the arrest of former BJP spokespersons Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.
Speaking to reporters, Information and Broadcasting minister said, "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." Leaders or organisations should not add fuel to the fire, he stressed.
The Union minister said law and order is a state subject and in order to maintain it, they should take strict possible action against the rioters.
He claimed violent protests are being deliberately planned to vitiate the atmosphere in the state and in the country.
"During corona pandemic, as compared to other countries, India has performed very well. Be it 193 crore vaccinations, giving free rations to 80 crore poor people continuously for 28 months or bringing back 23,000 students under Operation Ganga from Ukraine. The economy has been strengthened further, and India, the world's fastest growing economy is moving ahead with 8.7 per cent. The GST collections have reached 1.5 lakh crore," he said.
High time PM breaks ‘silence’ on ‘proliferation’ of Islamophobic incidents: Tharoor
Amid outrage over the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by the BJP’s now-sacked two functionaries, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on June 12 said it is high time Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence on the “proliferation of hate speech and Islamophobic incidents” in the country, asserting that his silence is interpreted by some as condoning what has been happening.
In an interview with PTI, Mr. Tharoor said the irony is that in recent years the Indian government has taken “impressive steps” to strengthen relations with Islamic countries, but that risks being “seriously undermined”.
The former Union minister also weighed in on the ongoing debate on the need for blasphemy laws in the country, and said he is not a fan of such laws because the history of such laws elsewhere is littered with their misuse and abuse.
Bengal Police asks LoP not to visit violence-hit Howrah; he says will move court if stopped
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari headed on a collision course with the West Bengal Police on June 12 with the law enforcers asking the BJP leader not to visit parts of violence-hit Howrah district where prohibitory orders have been clamped but the Nandigram MLA retorting that he would move the court if he is stopped.
A letter, issued by the officer-in-charge of Kanthi Police Station at Adhikari’s hometown in Purba Medinipur district, stated that concern over his security was the main reason for asking him not to visit parts of Howrah district where Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed. - PTI
Security bolstered in violence-hit Ranchi, internet restored after 33 hours
Tension prevailed in Jharkhand capital Ranchi on June 12, as shops and other establishments remained shut amid heavy deployment of security forces in the wake of violent protests over controversial comments on Prophet Mohammad.
Internet services, however, were restored in the district after nearly 33 hours, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan said. Around 2,500 police personnel are on guard at sensitive areas in Ranchi, where two people were killed and more than two dozen people were critically injured, as protests and clashes rocked the City after the Friday prayers.
The protesters have been demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad. - PTI
PM Modi’s silence ‘baffling’: Chidambaram on controversial comments on Prophet
Asked about the outrage and condemnation from a number of Muslim-majority nations over the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad and calls that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have intervened in the matter when the comments were made, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said, “Most certainly, yes, the prime minister should have spoken and acted immediately after the offensive utterances by the two (BJP) spokespersons.”
“The PM’s silence is baffling, but in tune with his silence on past occasions. It is sad that the government turned a deaf ear when Opposition parties, civil society leaders, writers, scholars and common citizens forewarned the government to put an end to Islamophobia, but woke up startled when 16 countries remonstrated against the utterances,” he said. - PTI
Mumbai police summons Nupur Sharma on June 25
Mumbai police summons suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma on June 25 in connection with a case over her controversial remarks about Prophet Mohammad: Official - PTI
Maharashtra police summon Nupur Sharma, Naveen Jindal over remarks against Prophet Mohammad
The Bhiwandi police in Maharashtra have summoned suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma to record a statement on Monday in connection with her alleged objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammad, an official said on June 12.
Besides, expelled BJP functionary Naveen Kumar Jindal has also been asked by the Bhiwandi police in Thane district to record his statement on June 15 over his alleged controversial tweets against Prophet Mohammad, senior police inspector Chetan Kakade told reporters.
The Bhiwandi police had registered a case against Ms. Sharma following a complaint lodged by a representative of the Raza Academy on May 30, he said. They had also registered a case against Mr. Jindal, the official said. - PTI
Two arrested for disrupting communal harmony
Two men have been arrested for allegedly promoting communal harmony and for holding a protest without permission to demand the arrest of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her remarks against Prophet Mohammad in Jama Masjid area, police said on June 12.
The two were arrested on Saturday night and have been identified as Mohd Nadeem (43), resident of Jama Masjid area, and Faheem (37), resident of Turkman Gate area, they said. - PTI
UP Police arrests 304 people for Friday violence
The Uttar Pradesh Police has so far arrested over 300 people from eight districts of the State in connection with Friday’s violence during protests against the controversial remarks of suspended BJP functionary Nupur Sharma on Prophet Mohammad.
In a statement issued on June 12, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said, “As many as 304 persons have been arrested from eight districts of the state, and 13 cases have been registered in this connection in nine districts of the state.”
Elaborating further, Mr. Kumar said, “91 persons have been arrested in Prayagraj, followed by 71 in Saharanpur, 51 in Hathras, 34 each in Ambedkar Nagar and Moradabad, 15 in Firozabad, six in Aligarh and two in Jalaun.” Of the 13 cases, three cases each were registered in Prayagraj and Saharanpur, and one each in Firozabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Moradabad, Hathras, Aligarh, Lakhimpur Kheri and Jalaun, the senior officer said. - PTI
Clash between members of two communities in Gujarat town; cop among four injured
A communal clash broke out in Gujarat’s Anand district in which a police constable and three other persons suffered injuries, an official said on June 12.
Police have arrested 14 people in connection with the incident that took place in Borsad town on Saturday night over the issue of laying of bricks on a disputed plot of land, he said. Later, the police lobbed around 50 teargas shells and fired 30 rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, Deputy Superintendent of Police D R Patel said.
Heavy security has been deployed in the town and the situation is under control, he said. - PTI
Nupur Sharma | In the eye of the storm
Within a day of the diplomatic storm that broke out over remarks made by suspended BJP national spokesperson Nupur Sharma on Prophet Muhammed, during a TV show aired on May 26, another video clip of her went viral. This one was from 2008, when she was the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS. It was about a reported incident of a protester “spitting” at a former Delhi University Professor S.A.R. Geelani. Mr. Geelani had been given the death sentence by a trial court and later acquitted by the Supreme Court in the 2001 Parliament attack case. Ms. Sharma’s moment on television came when she, along with other students, stormed into a faculty seminar on the topic “Communalism, fascism and democracy: rhetoric and reality”, to protest against Mr. Geelani’s participation.
Uneasy calm prevails in violence-hit Howrah
Uneasy calm prevailed on June 12 in West Bengal’s Howrah district, where Section 144 of CrPc has been clamped in some areas and internet services suspended following violent protests over controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by suspended BJP spokespersons, police said.
The situation in Murshidabad’s Beldanga, Rejinagar and Shaktipur police station areas, where internet services have been suspended following violent protests over the row, is also peaceful.
Home Ministry issues advisory to States as protests continue
As protests mounted in several parts of the country over the recent controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad by suspended Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Kumar Jindal, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said it was monitoring the situation.
A senior MHA official told The Hindu that an advisory has been sent to States regarding the protests.
