Two dead in Ranchi, Howrah simmers, authorities take action against protesters in UP, other states

Protests over remarks on Prophet

STATE TIMES NEWS

Ranchi/Kolkata/Lucknow: Two persons succumbed to gunshot wounds in Jharkhand capital Ranchi and fresh violence broke out in West Bengal’s Howrah on Saturday as tension prevailed in several parts of the country a day after the riotous protests against the controversial remarks by BJP’s now-sacked two functionaries on Prophet Mohammad.
Authorities suspended the Internet and tightened security in the affected districts as they cracked down on protesters allegedly involved in the violence and clashes with police personnel, with over 250 people arrested in Uttar Pradesh alone.
Cases have been also registered in Delhi, Maharashtra and other states where people held massive protests after Friday prayers demanding the arrest of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.
While a bandh was observed on Saturday in the Jharkhand capital on a call by Hindu outfits against the violence, around 2,500 police personnel were deployed and the internet was suspended in the district.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren formed a two-member committee, comprising senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal and Additional Director General of Police Sanjay Latkar to investigate the violence that left two persons dead and at least 24 people injured, a senior official told PTI.
The committee has been asked to submit its report to the state government in a week, he said.
Mohammad Mudassir Kaifi (22), who had gunshot wounds on his head, and 24-year-old Mohammad Sahil, with bullet injuries on neck, died during treatment, an official of state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences said in Ranchi.
“Both were residents of Ranchi,” he said, adding that eight others are in the ICU.
Ranchi’s Deputy Inspector General Anish Gupta said a Special Investigation Team has also been set up to probe the incident. “Three FIRs have been lodged so far. Search operations are on to arrest the persons involved in the violence,” he said.
Delhi Police registered a case in connection with Friday’s protest outside Jama Masjid and under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and further investigation is underway, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chauhan said.
Fresh violence was reported in the Panchla Bazaar area in West Bengal’s Howrah district as protesters clashed with the police, set ablaze several houses and also vandalised a BJP party office.
Protests had erupted in several parts of Howrah district on Friday with people indulging in stone-pelting, setting police vehicles on fire and damaging public property.
Internet services have been suspended across the district till June 13 and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC imposed in several areas such as Uluberia, Domjur and Panchla till June 15.
On Saturday, authorities suspended internet services in parts of Murshidabad district also till June 14.
The West Bengal government effected a police reshuffle in Howrah district, appointing Praveen Tripathi, Additional CP of Kolkata Police, the new Commissioner of Police of Howrah City and other officers, after an emergency meeting at the state secretariat.
BJP’s West Bengal unit president Sukanta Majumdar was arrested on Saturday afternoon near the toll plaza on Vidyasagar Setu when he was on the way to violence-hit Howrah district, folowing which the party protested in several districts. “His visit could have created a law and order situation. This is a preventive arrest,” a senior police officer told PTI.
Majumdar, the MP of Balurghat in Uttar Dinajpur, said the situation in West Bengal was fast turning into that in Kashmir.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim demanded the arrest of Sharma.
Nupur Sharma was suspended by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while another leader, Naveen Jindal, was expelled over their controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad amid an intense backlash from several Islamic countries and calls for a boycott of Indian products. There have been protests in many Indian cities as well, while multiple FIRs have been registered against Sharma.
Sharma was on Saturday summoned by Mumbai Police to record her statement on June 25 in connection with a First Information Report (FIR) at Pydhonie police station. She was earlier summoned by neighbouring Thane police to record statement on June 22.
Uttar Pradesh police said it had arrested 255 people from various districts. In Saharanpur and Prayagraj, police officials said action will be taken against those arrested under the stringent National Security Act.
Among those arrested, 68 were held in Prayagraj and 64 in Saharanpur and 50 in Hathras, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said in a statement on Saturday evening.