Muslim groups organised protest rallies against anti-Muslim violence in Tripura across Maharashtra, mainly cities of Amravati, Malegaon, and Nanded on Friday.
A bandh was observed in Muslim-dominated areas of Mumbai including Bhendi Bazar, Mohammad Ali Road, Kurla as well as Mumbra and Bhiwandi in Thane.
In Amravati city in east Maharashtra, over eight thousand people gathered outside the district collector’s office to submit a memorandum demanding that atrocities against the Muslims should be stopped.
Raza Academy, a Muslim organisation, handed over a memorandum to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The survivors of Hindutva violence in Tripura should be given compensation and the mosques which were damaged should be reconstructed, the Muslim group demanded.
Clashes
Maharashtra Home minister Dilip Walse-Patil had said in an official note that the protest marches taken out in the state against the violence against the Muslims in Tripura took a violent turn in some places, but the situation was under control.
Police officials said, at least 20 FIRs were registered in connection with stone-pelting during rallies held in protest and 20 persons were arrested.
Saffron bandh
A Hindutva mob hurled stones and damaged shops at various places in Amravati on Saturday during a bandh organised by a saffron body prompting the police to lathicharge the protesters.
The incident occurred during a bandh called by a Hindutva group against Friday’s protests.
People who were holding saffron flags in their hands and raising slogans against Muslims came out on streets in Rajkamal Chowk area.
Videos showed a mob destroying shops in the presence of police officers.
Police officials said the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters. The Maharashtra Police dispatched four companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and another 125 police personnel to rein in the mob.
A curfew has been imposed in Amravati city following further incidents of violence. People will not be allowed to come out of their homes unless there is a medical emergency and gatherings of more than five persons have been banned.
Internet services will remain suspended in the city for three days to stop the spread of rumours, Commissioner of Police Arti Singh said.
