KANPUR: The police have arrested Hayat Zafar Hashmi, the alleged mastermind of the violence erupted after the Friday prayers in the Parade area, and three of his aides from Lucknow on Saturday.
Hayat and his aides have been absconding since the violence occurred and the police were looking for them. The police meanwhile have booked 800 people, arrested 20 others and detained 12 for questioning in connection with the violence.
As many as 12 people were injured in heavy brick-batting that took place between members of the two communities after Friday prayers when members of the minority community started forcing traders to down their shutters to protest against the "insult" allegedly heaped on Prophet Mohammed by a local BJP leader during a TV debate.
Police after the arrest have shifted the focus of investigations onto the Hayat’s and aides' connection with Popular Front of India (PFI).
Hayat and his three accomplices were hiding in the office of a YouTube channel in Hazratganj area of Lucknow.
On the basis of specific leads, the Crime Branch team of Kanpur Commissionerate arrested him.
Investigations so far have revealed that one Zafar hayat Hashmi has emerged as the mastermind of the protest during which violence erupted. Zafar, who is the president of Maulana Mohd Ali Jauhar Fans association, had earlier made headlines when he tried to take out a religious procession last year without the mandatory permission of the administration.
He has allegedly been associated with the anti-CAA protests in Kanpur as well.
In a press conference at the police line on Saturday, Police Commissioner Vijay Singh Meena confirmed the arrest of Hayat Zafar Hashmi, the national president of the Maulana Mohd Ali Jauhar Fans Association, and three other of his aides.
Meena said that the police investigation so far has revealed that Hayat and his accomplices had hatched the conspiracy to cause the riots in the city.
After the disturbance, all of them hid in the office of a YouTube channel in Hazratganj area of Lucknow. On getting specific inputs, the police conducted a raid and arrested him and his three aides identified as Javed Ahmed Khan state chairman Maulana Mohd Ali Jauhar Fans Association, Rahil Khan member and Mohammad Sufiyan, members Maulana Mohd Ali Jauhar Fans Association. Police have recovered six mobile phones and some incriminating documents were also found.
The Commissioner of Police said that in Manipur and West Bengal, a "bandh" was called by the Popular Front of India (PFI) on the statement of the BJP leader. On the same date, a call for a "bandh" was also called in Kanpur.
On this basis, the police are investigating whether Hayat Zafar Hashmi’s connection is with the Popular Front of India.
The Commissioner of Police said that after the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, the police got the connection of PFI in the investigation of the violence in the City.
Five PFI workers were also arrested then. Their details are also being procured so that their connection with Hayat Zafar Hashmi could be ascertained.
The Police Commissioner said that three cases have been registered in this case. Police will take Hayat’s remand for questioning after presenting him in court soon.
According to the official, the bank accounts of Hayat Zafar Hashmi, his associates and his organization will also be investigated.
According to Joint Commissioner of Police Anand Prakash Tiwari, three FIR’s have been lodged in this regard.
In three FIRs, the police have named 40 including Hayat Zafar Hashmi, Ehtsham Kabadi, Zeeshan, Aaqib, Nizam Qureshi, Azeezur, Aamir Javed Ansari of Jauhar Fans Association. So far 24 including Hayat Zafar hashmi have been arrested. Around 800 unidentified have been booked under IPC sections 147, 148 (rebellion), 149 (committing an offense by a public group), 153 (committing an offense from a religious place etc.), 307 (attempt to kill), 323 (murder), 504, 506 (threat to death) Dena), 332 (intimidation of public servant), 333 (obstructing public servant from performing duty), 353 (obstructing government work) and 7 under the Criminal Law Amendment Act.
He said that the first FIR has been registered on a complaint by Beconganj Station House Officer Nawab Ahmad against nearly 500 people for rioting with deadly weapons.
The FIR names 36 people, including MMA Jauhar Fans Association chief Hayat Zafar Hashmi and his associates Yousuf Mansoori and Amir Jawed Ansari, said Joint Commissioner.
The SHO stated that Hashmi and his men had called for the closure of shops on Friday to protest the remarks made against the Prophet by a BJP spokesperson. The rioters used deadly weapons, hurled petrol bombs and took to the streets, triggering panic in the area, the FIR stated.
The second FIR was lodged on a complaint by Sub-Inspector Asif Raza. Twenty people have been named in the FIR and 350 unidentified people have been booked.
Hashmi along with Yousuf Mansoori, Amir Jawed Ansari and others converged at the Dada Miyan crossing and moved towards Yateemkhana, forcing traders to close their shops which led to lawlessness, the second FIR stated.
The third FIR was registered on a complaint by Mukesh, a resident of Chandeshwar Ka Hata, who alleged that hundreds of Muslims, carrying sticks, iron rods and deadly weapons attacked the members of the other community with an intent to kill them.
