Protesters attacked Bethuadahari railway station in Nadia district in West Bengal on Sunday and damaged a local train, shattering the uneasy calm that had been prevailing in the state in the aftermath of violent protests that broke out in Howrah and Murshidabad districts a day before. The police authorities have arrested 100 rioters in the two districts, even as prohibitory orders were imposed in some parts and internet services were suspended.
According to police officials, a large number of protesters had put up a road blockade in Bethuadahari town. When the police dispersed them they entered the railway station and attacked a local train. Details of the damage are awaited.
Meanwhile, clamping down on alleged rioters, government authorities in Uttar Pradesh bulldozed the ‘illegal’ residence of Javed Mohammad, alias Javed Pump, in Prayagraj, where violence broke out on June 10 after Friday prayers. Prayagraj Development Authority de
molished Javed Pump’s house under heavy police presence. “#WATCH|Demolition of the “illegally constructed” residence of Prayagraj violence accused Javed Ahmed underway, after the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) earlier put a demolition notice at the residence,” tweeted ANI after the authority began to bulldoze the building.
A day before the police had arrested Javed Pump, who police say was the mastermind behind the violence. The city police have detained 68 persons for rioting.
Authorities in Saharanpur and Kanpur also bulldozed houses belonging to alleged rioters on June 11. In Saharanpur, bulldozers were seen bringing down two houses the police said were ‘illegal constructions’ belonging to Muzammil and Abdul Waqir accused of rioting. According to police officials, 64 people have been arrested in Saharanpur.
Elsewhere in Kanpur, a newly-constructed building owned by Mohammad Ishtiyaq, who according to the police is an aide of Zafar Hayat Hashmi, was demolished. Hashmi is accused of inciting violent protests in the city on June 3 in which 40 people including some police personnel were hurt. So far, 50 persons have been arrested.
Slamming the BJP government for its ‘bulldozer policy’, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said, “An atmosphere of fear is created in the country. A new bulldozer culture has begun. The houses of the people are being destroyed at will. The BJP is running a campaign against the political opponents and some sections of society.”
The police authorities in the state have arrested more than 230 persons after protests broke out on June 10 in various cities of Uttar Pradesh.
Protests over controversial remarks that former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and party’s Delhi unit media head Naveen Jindal made against Prophet Muhammad erupted after Friday prayers in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Punjab, Karnataka and West Bengal.
Jharkhand Police have registered 25 FIRs against ‘thousands” of people after protests turned violent in Ranchi. Two persons, including a Class X student, were killed in police firing.
Even though both BJP leaders have been sacked by the party high command for their derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad, the controversy has refused to die.
Amid the raging controversy and police clampdown on protestors, however, Jamaat Ulama-e-Hind President Suhaib Qasmi has exhorted the Muslims to stay calm and forgive Nupur Sharma. ANI quoted Qasmi as saying, “Islam says Nupur Sharma should be forgiven. We disagree with the protest that started across the country after Friday prayers against Nupur Sharma and her derogatory remarks.”