Draconian National Security Act (NSA) and the Gangsters Act were invoked on Thursday against five Muslim men in the case of the June 3 protest in Kanpur’s Beckonganj area against derogatory remarks by BJP leader Nupur Sharma about the prophet Muhammed.
Hayat Zafar Hashmi, the main accused in the case, has been booked under the NSA, while four others, Mukhtar Ahmad Baba, Haji Mohammad Wasi, Akeel Khichdi and Shafiq have been booked under the Gangsters Act, officials said.
Hashmi is the chief of a local outfit, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Fans Association.
Wasi is a city-based realtor while Baba is the owner of city-based restaurant chain Baba Biryani. Both of them are accused of financing Hashmi.
“On June 3, an incident happened in Kanpur and an attempt was made to disturb communal harmony. Taking swift action, the police have so far arrested 60 people. In continuation of that, the main accused who provided funding for the violence and gathered people in an attempt to disturb peace have been booked under the Gangsters Act,” said Kanpur Police Commissioner Vijay Singh Meena.
“A report was received from the Kanpur Police Commissioner about the main accused Hayat Zafar Hashmi. An order was passed to invoke Section 3(2) of the National Security Act against him on Thursday,” said District Magistrate Vishak G.
The Kanpur Police have registered three FIRs in connection with the protests and arrested 60 people so far.
 and the Gangsters Act were invoked on Thursday against five Muslim men in the case of the June 3 protest in Kanpur’s Beckonganj area against derogatory remarks by BJP leader Nupur Sharma about the prophet Muhammed.){kind=link}