Prophet Remark Row: Over 400 Arrested Across Several States After Friday Violence — Key Points
Among those arrested, 316 were held in eight districts in Uttar Pradesh and 100 in West Bengal, while the Ranchi police registered 25 FIRs against "thousands" of people.
New Delhi: Over 400 persons have been arrested so far for the violence ensuing protests after Friday prayers in several states over the controversial remark by now-sacked BJP functionaries on Prophet Mohammad reported news agency PTI. Authorities in Uttar Pradesh razed “illegal” houses of the accused for the second day.
Sporadic incidents of violence and protests were reported West Bengal’s Nadia district on Sunday where people attacked and damaged a local train at Bethuadahari railway station even as prohibitory orders continued in parts of Howrah and Murshidabad districts.
Among those arrested, 316 were held in eight districts in Uttar Pradesh and 100 in West Bengal, while the Ranchi police registered 25 FIRs against "thousands" of people for the clashes that left two dead and scores of others injured on June 10 in the Jharkhand capital, and security was stepped up in other parts of the state also.
Summons To Nupur Sharma, Naveen Kumar Jindal
Now-sacked spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Nupur Sharma has been summoned by the Bhiwandi police in Maharashtra to record a statement on Monday, while Jindal has also been summoned on June 15 in the case registered against them on a complaint lodged by a representative of the Raza Academy on May 30.
Earlier, the police in Thane asked Sharma to appear before them on June 22 while the Mumbai Police had summoned her on June 25.
‘Bulldozer Action’ in Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said 13 cases have been registered and 316 people arrested from eight districts, as reported by the news agency.
"92 people have been arrested in Prayagraj, 79 in Saharanpur, 51 in Hathras, 34 in Ambedkar Nagar, 35 in Moradabad, 15 in Firozabad, six in Aligarh and four in Jalaun," Kumar said.
Authorities in Prayagraj razed down violence-accused Javed Ahmed’s residence amid heavy police deployment.
"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 am and demolition commenced around 1 pm.
"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," an official of Prayagraj Development Authority said.
Two country-made pistols, several live cartridges, flags, posters and banners, have been recovered from the house, the police claimed.
Javed Ahmad, alias Pump, had been arrested on Saturday, the police added.
A day earlier, the properties of two others accused of rioting were demolished in Saharanpur where stone-pelting had taken place as well.
Internet Services Restored In Ranchi
Internet services were restored in the Ranchi district after nearly 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.
A flag march was conducted by the police in East Singhbhum and prohibitory orders were imposed adjoining Seraikela-Kharswan as a precautionary measure to prevent any communal flare-up, officials said.
Family members of Mohammad Mudassir Alam and Mohammad Sahil, who were fatally shot during Friday's clashes, claimed they were not a part of the protest procession.
Responding to queries over police firing, Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Surendra Kumar Jha, however said that 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," Jha said.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been lifted from six of the 12 police station areas, Ranjan added.
Fresh Violence In West Bengal
A large number of protestors put up a road blockade in West Bengal's Bethuadahari who later threw stones at a local train which was on a platform as they entered a railway station when chased by police.
Train services on the Lalgola line have been affected due to the attack, police said, adding there was no immediate report of any casualty.
More than 100 people have been arrested in West Bengal's Howrah and Murshidabad districts district for the violence since Friday while prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPc has been clamped in some areas and internet services suspended.
"The overall situation is peaceful at present as there have been no reports of any fresh incident in Howrah and Murshidabad districts. A total of 100 people have been arrested so far. Our force is on alert and any attempt to create disturbance will be dealt with strongly," a senior police officer told PTI over the phone.
Security was tightened in areas "considered sensitive" in Kolkata such as Park Circus, Kidderpore, Rajabazar and Mallickbazar.
An FIR has been lodged at Kanthi Police Station against Nupur Sharma, an officer said.
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