Prayagraj Violence | Mastermind Detained, Anti-Social Elements Used Kids To Hurl Stones At Police: SSP

People pelted stones at police personnel in Prayagraj and Saharanpur as protests broke out after Friday prayers in at least four other cities in UP against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma.

Miscreants throw stones on police during a protest over controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad, in Prayagraj, Friday, June 10 | Prayagraj SSP Ajay Kumar

Source : PTI | ANI

New Delhi: Prayagraj Superintendent of Police, Ajay Kumar, on Saturday said that the 'mastermind' behind the violent protest in the city was detained while there may be more behind the incident. "Mastermind Javed Ahmed detained, there could be more masterminds...The anti-social elements used minor kids to hurl stones at the police and administration. Case registered under 29 crucial sections. Action to be taken under Gangster Act & NSA," he informed, as quoted by news agency ANI.

The statement comes after people pelted stones at police personnel in Prayagraj and Saharanpur as protests broke out after Friday prayers in at least four other cities in Uttar Pradesh over suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma's recent remarks on Prophet Mohammad.

As per SSP Ajay Kumar, 70 individuals have been named as accused while there are over 5,000 unnamed accused persons. Action will be taken against them under Gangster Act and NSA, he informed.

"No connection established yet. Names of some people from AIMIM have surfaced, gathering evidence for the same," he said, as quoted by ANI.

About action against mastermind Javed Ahmed's daughter, he informed that she is a student in Delhi and is also involved in such activities. "If needed, we will contact Delhi Police and send our teams," he stated.

After FIR was lodged, 68 people have been arrested so far. Security forces deployed in large numbers, Prayagraj DM Sanjay Kumar Khatri informed.

Meanwhile, SSP Saharanpur said that the police have not ruled out PFI involvement in the violence. "...The manner in which the crowd took to the streets after Friday namaz, it definitely seems that some people had planned...PFI involvement hasn't come to the fore yet but can't be ruled out. Checking involvement of extremist organisations..." he said, as quoted by ANI.

#WATCH | UP: On y'day protest, SSP Saharanpur says, "...The manner in which crowd took to the streets after Friday namaz, it definitely seems that some people had planned...PFI involvement hasn't come to fore yet but can't be ruled out. Checking involvement of extremist orgs..." pic.twitter.com/vtszIMi1Ro

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 11, 2022

Earlier, it was informed that police arrested more than 130 people from six districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar on Friday said that 45 protesters were arrested from Saharanpur, 37 from Prayagraj, 23 people from Ambedkar Nagar, 20 from Hathras, seven from Moradabad, and four from Firozabad district.

Last week, clashes broke out in Kanpur over the remarks on the Prophet by Nupur Sharma at a TV debate. A high alert was issued across the state after that, and a heavy police force was deployed to ensure that violence does not occur again.

(With Agency Inputs)