Prophet remark: Bulldozers out in Prayagraj, house of key accused in Friday's violence razed

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New Delhi, June 12

In a massive crackdown after the Friday violence over the anti-Prophet remarks of two former BJP spokespersons, the UP Police arrested 304 persons from eight districts while the Prayagraj Development Authority demolished “an illegal property” owned by one Javed Shah, who the cops alleged was the mastermind of the violence in the city.

This was the third demolition of “illegal properties” in two days in the state. On Saturday, the “illegal properties” of two others accused of violence in Saharanpur were similarly brought down by bulldozers. Saharanpur SP Rajesh Kumar had said the two accused had been identified through CCTV footage as Muzammil and Abdul Vakir, both local residents.

Today in Prayagraj, a senior municipal officer said Javed Ahmad’s house located in the Kareli area of the city was constructed without a proper approval by the development authority.

“The house was built without getting the map approved. A notice was issued over the matter on May 10 and Javed was asked to be present on May 24. But neither did he nor his lawyer turned up. No document was furnished, hence the demolition order,” the Prayagraj Development Authority said.

Javed was among those arrested today, said Prayagraj Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath had recently reiterated that miscreants would face stern action in case they disturbed law and order.

CM’s media adviser Mrityunjay Kumar on Saturday tweeted a photo of the demolition drive in Saharanpur and said, “Unruly elements remember, there is a Saturday after every Friday”. The Friday mayhem saw protesters throwing stones at police personnel in Prayagraj and Saharanpur after prayers in mosques.

In Prayagraj, protesters also set a few motorcycles and carts ablaze while also attempting to torch a police vehicle. The police foiled the bid by using teargas and batons.

State Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar in a statement today said, “As many as 304 persons have been arrested from eight districts of the state, and 13 cases have been registered in this connection in nine districts of the state. Of these 91 have been arrested in Prayagraj, 71 in Saharanpur, 51 in Hathras, 34 each in Ambedkar Nagar and Moradabad, 15 in Firozabad, six in Aligarh and two in Jalaun.”

He said of the 13 cases, three each were registered at police stations in Prayagraj and Saharanpur, one each in Firozabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Moradabad, Hathras, Aligarh, Lakhimpur Kheri and Jalaun.

A local train in West Bengal’s Nadia district was attacked and damaged on Sunday evening. Nearly 100 were arrested in Howrah and Murshidabad districts, while the Ranchi police filed 25 FIRs against “thousands” of people for the clashes.

Media adviser had hinted at action

In a tweet on Saturday, Mrityunjay Kumar, media adviser to the CM, had warned: “Unruly elements remember, every Friday is followed by a Saturday”, posting a photo of a bulldozer demolishing a building.

Akhilesh tweets Video on ‘beatings in lockup’

• SP chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted a video of policemen thrashing some men with sticks in a ‘lockup’, saying questions must be raised.
• UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya mocked: “Rioters are being beaten up but Akhilesh Yadav is feeling the pain.”