Police on Saturday said they have arrested thirty-six people so far in connection with the violence that erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Friday. The violence reportedly took place over alleged insulting remarks on Prophet Muhammad by a BJP spokesperson in a TV news show.
Officials said that police scoured video clips of the violence to identify the people involved in it, after which they were arrested. Around 40 people were left injured in the violence. Police also informed that three First Information Reports or FIRs have been registered in the case against unknown persons.
Police Commissioner Vijay Singh Meena said: “More people are being identified on the basis of the videos.”
Action will be taken against the conspirators under the Gangster Act, and their property will be seized, the CP further added.
Heavy police force is present in the city to maintain law and order, and avoid further deterioration of law and order.
Over a call to shut down markets in protest against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her alleged comments against Prophet Mohammed during a recent news debate on the Gyanvapi issue, two groups clashed and threw stones at each other after Friday prayers, which resulted in eruption of violence in parts of Kanpur.
Officials said thirteen police personnel and thirty other people from both sides were injured in the clashes.
“Some young men number 50-100 suddenly stepped out on the streets and started sloganeering. Another group opposed it and it escalated to stone-throwing. Around eight to ten cops were present at the spot then who tried to intervene and controlled the situation to some extent. The control room was informed immediately and senior officials including me reached the spot within 10 minutes,” CP Meena said.
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