Following the Muslims in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur accuse the city police of arbitrary arrests and intimidation of Muslims in connection with the violence over protests against derogatory comments on prophet Muhammed, the police has released the pictures of 40 “rioters.”
The city witnessed violence on Friday after a Hindu mob attacked a protest led by Muslims against the derogatory comments of BJP leader Nupur Sharma on the prophet Muhammed.
All the 40 men are from Muslim community, a local activist said to Maktoob.
Police said they have gathered images of the persons through video clips, cameras and CCTV footage.
The police have announced that the identities of people who share any information about these 40 men will be protected.
The police said to reporters that they have been inundated with phone calls since the photos were made public.
They have received information about four of the 40 suspects and two have been arrested. The two are brothers, India Today quotes police as saying.
According to news agency PTI, the Uttar Pradesh Police have decided to put up hoardings of these men at prominent places in and around the affected areas.
“25 hoardings with photographs of about 20 key accused, who allegedly took part in the June 3 violence, will be put up at prominent places in and around the affected areas and neighbouring pockets,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), Pramod Kumar, told the agency.
The police said these men to have played an active role in the Friday violence that injured several people.
On Friday, a Muslim organisation called to shut down shops at the Parade Market – one of the biggest wholesale markets in the city – over the comments made by Sharma about Prophet Mohammed in a televised debate. The clashes began when the Hindu groups started hurling stones at protesting Muslims. Videos showed the Hindu mob attacking Muslims in the presence of cops.
Following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued directives to UP Director general of police (DGP) to invoke Gangster Act and National Security Act (NSA) against the “trouble makers,” at least 36 Muslims were booked under the draconian NSA in Kanpur.
The 36 names include Hayat Zafar Hashmi, who is the national president of the Maulana Muhammad Jauhar Ali Fans Association and a local Muslim activist in the city.
The Police FIR alleged that Hashmi “incited the people, which led to stone-pelting and clashes between two groups that left more than 30, including several police personnel, injured.”
