Lucknow, June 10: Violence erupted in several districts of Uttar Pradesh after Friday prayers over the demand of arrest of expelled BJP leader Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal in connection with the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad. The protesters resorted to stone pelting and arson, in which small children have also been used. There are reports of some police personnel getting injured in stone pelting. Several vehicles were also burnt during the ruckus.
However, in time, the police brought the situation under control.
In view of the ruckus in many districts including Prayagraj, Saharanpur, Moradabad and Hathras, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the officials that strict action should be taken against the culprits. After this the police started arresting the miscreants.
According to information received from different districts, more than a hundred people have been arrested so far.
Stone pelted by children in Prayagraj
Prayagraj ADG Prem Prakash said that vigilance was being taken regarding Friday prayers. The assurance was also given in the meeting held with religious leaders in the past. But after Friday prayers, there was arson and stone pelting in the name of demonstration in Atala area. When the police moved forward, the protesters pushed the children forward. PAC vehicle was set on fire, many vehicles were vandalized. RAF jawan has been injured in stone pelting, while DM-SSP has got stones. The police lathi-charged the stone pelters by releasing tear gas.
He added, the situation was brought under control after four hours. Sealing the area, the police have now started arresting the stone pelters, for this a list has also been prepared. The conspiracy of several organizations is being told in this incident.
ADG Prem Prakash said that the names of leftists and many organizations are coming out in this violent incident. Especially the imam of Badi Masjid of Atala is being searched. Many people have been taken into custody. A list of ten such people has been prepared, who are associated with any political party, organization, they will also be arrested.
Similarly, the incident of violence in Prayagraj was not peaceful that there was stone pelting in Moradabad too. The stone pelters pelted stones fiercely. The police chased the stone pelters by lathi-charge. After the ruckus calmed down, the police have now started arresting the stone pelters. So far the police have detained five to six stone pelters.
Moradabad SSP Hemant Kutiyal said that the stone pelters are being identified on the basis of the video they got during stone pelting. So far more than six people have been arrested.
21 arrested in Saharanpur
After Prayagraj, Moradabad, the district Saharanpur and Deoband also witnessed uproar after Namaz. Even here the miscreants pelted stones. The deteriorating situation has been brought under control by the police. Now the arrest of miscreants has started so far 21 people were arrested, while this number will increase rapidly.
SSP Akash Tomar said that those who committed violence in the district are being identified. So far 21 people have been arrested. Other people are being identified and soon they will also be caught.
Attempts were also made to take out procession in Hathras, lathi charge
Attempts were made to burn the effigy of Nupur Sharma and take out a procession after Namaz in Purdilnagar town of Hathras district. The police tried to snatch the effigy while explaining to the protesters. On this the Muslim community got enraged and started pelting stones at the police. Police personnel were injured in stone pelting. After this the police lathi-charged everyone and chased them away. Controlling the situation, heavy force was deployed in the area.
Outside the Agha Shah Mosque in Firozabad district, after offering prayers, the Namazis started protesting against the arrest of Nupur Sharma. When the police tried to pacify them, they started creating ruckus. Clashes broke out between police protesters. Seeing the gathering of the crowd, the police chased the crowd with sticks.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Deoband, Hathras, violent protesters pelted stones on the police. To bring the situation under control, tear gas was fired at the police. The protesters were chased away by lathi-charge. In Lucknow too, after offering Namaz at the Mound Wali Masjid, the crowd gathered and started shouting slogans. But the police present here in large numbers dispersed the crowd by pelting sticks and evacuated the mosque.
Strict action should be taken against rioters: Yogi
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given strict instructions to the top officials to deal with the rioters amid protests in many cities including Prayagraj, Saharanpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.
He has said that strictest action should be taken against the miscreants who are creating unrest.
Additional Chief Secretary Home summoned the report of the districts
Additional Chief Secretary Home Awanish Awasthi has called for the report of the districts from the responsible of the districts where violent protests have taken place. He said that all the matters by the police administration in the state.
Adequate amount of patrolling is being done by the District CO.
In-charge DGP said that strict action will be taken
Uttar Pradesh’s Acting Director General of Police DS Chauhan has said that the Police Headquarters is continuously monitoring the demonstrations and violent incidents in many cities including Lucknow, Prayagraj, Saharanpur, and Moradabad.
He said that in places where the situation had worsened, the situation was now under control. The situation in the entire state is normal now. Strict action will be taken against those who disturb the peace.
DGP Chauhan stated that the children who were brought forward in the ruckus have been sent home after persuasion. Under the guise of these children, those who have tried to create unrest in the state will not be spared under any circumstances; strict action will be taken against them.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said that the situation in the state is normal. Monitoring is being done from the Police Headquarters with the deployment of additional forces in the districts where incidents have taken place. Full support of religious leaders has been received.
