More than a thousand people who sparked the violence at Azad Maidan here on Saturday were not a part of the protest groups, but probably came from the suburbs to cause riots, stated the internal police report accessed by The Hindu on Sunday. It said the mob of around 1,000 people was armed with petrol cans, plastic bottles filled with inflammable liquids, hockey sticks, iron rods and bamboos. The police, who have the CCTV footage and footage shot by camerapersons from different television channels with them, are in the process of identifying the perpetrators of the violence and are investigating claims of the riots being a planned conspiracy.
According to the report, at around 3 p.m., when Maulana Gulam Abdul Kadri was giving a provocative speech, a mob of around 3,000 became agitated and came out of the Azad Maidan with banners, flags and bamboos in their hands and raised slogans. They were joined by a group of 1,000 young men who came out of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station. They raised slogans, used abusive language, and soon turned violent despite the police’s appeals for peace, the report stated. It is believed that the mob too wanted to join the protest.
Senior police officials said they were in the process of ascertaining if any provocative speech was made from the dais that instigated the mob.
Official sources said 17 speakers were on the dais during the protest. Only five had finished their speeches. When the fifth speaker — Maulana Kadri — was giving a provocative speech, he was allegedly stopped by a policeman. The speeches made by Maulana Niyamat Noori, Guddu Bhaiyya, Maulana Akhtar Ali, Maulana Amanullah Barkati and Maulana Gulam Abdul Kadri are under the police scanner. The police said that if their speeches were found to be provocative, they would be arrested and booked under Section 153(a) of the Indian Penal Code.
According to the report, the rioters allegedly molested women constables on duty, snatched two Self-Loading Rifles and one service revolver, 160 live rounds of cartridges, including 150 rounds of SLR and 10 rounds of service revolver. They also desecrated the ‘Amar Jawan’ memorial at CST and tried to burn down police vans with policemen in them.
“It was sheer luck that we were able to rescue the policemen from the vans. The mob had locked them in and was not allowing them to come out,” a senior police officer told The Hindu.
On Sunday, the police recovered 19 of the 150 missing rounds of SLR cartridges abandoned in the neighbouring Thane district’s Mumbra area.
The rest of the cartridges are yet to be recovered.
No terror angle
Senior police officials, however, denied any terror angle to the incident. They also denied there was intelligence failure. But according to sources, the Mumbai Police Cyber Crime Cell had information, two days ago, about objectionable and provocative pictures being uploaded on Facebook about “atrocities” against Muslims in Myanmar. Senior officials denied the reports. “We did not have any such information,” an officer told The Hindu.
The police also claimed that adequate forces were present to control the mob. While the police had estimated that no more than 5,000 protesters would turn up, the organisers had given an estimate of 1,500 people.
Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy said police were in control of the situation by 3.50 p.m, half an hour after the violence broke out.
Arrests
Meanwhile, the police on Sunday arrested 23 people on charges of arson, rioting, outraging the modesty of a woman, damaging public property and causing grievous injuries to people. They claimed that they were caught red-handed during the riots. None of the organisers have been arrested yet. The police will scrutinise the role of the organisers who belonged to the Madina Tulam Foundation, Raza Academy and some other Muslim organisations.
The accused were remanded to police custody till August 19.
Keywords: Assam riots, Mumbai protest, Azad Maidan, Mumbai violence, media coverage, Raza Academy
Ashamed to the whole india, who is not thinking about massacare of
Muslim in assam and burma
It is beyong belief that someone can even think of attacking Amar Jawan . It is a symbol of the sacrifices of the Soldiers who died to protect India from the enemy.
An attack on it is an attack on the Idea of India. This must be nipped in the bud. It is a ACT OF SEDITION . The persons responsible booked , tried and either HANGED or DEPORTED to thier favourite Country.
The police said it initially expected 1000 protesters to turn up, but there were actually 50,000. Therefore, it was a huge intelligence failure. The police's conjecture of conspiracy comes too late, and is suggestive of utter incompetence.
Ashamed on Violence of Mumbai on Saturday, Ashamed on Police force & IB
for considering this rally the normal one. negligence by Government &
police towards unpatriotic societies such as organizer of this rally
will have to pay with innocent lives someday.
Indian Law & Police force is Capable enough to control such situation
before any damage but they need to consider those unsocial people as a
criminal instead of considering 'SENSITIVE MATTER or MINORITY'.
I read that the organizers of the event had informed the police that the number of attendees to this programme would be around 1000-1500, but 50,000 people turned up and ended up rioting the city. There are two points to consider here,
1. The intelligence system has failed miserably or was too complacent to gather any information about this.
2. Inspite of the intelligence reports, the police have given their nod to this programme.
Needless to say both the scenarios are very dangerous. When the number people in azad maidan was growing dangerously out of proportion and people were giving fiery and provocative speechs on the dias why didn't the police take notice and take preemptive action? In Delhi they attacked and beat up a sleeping crowd that was protesting peacefully, but here they could stop this shameful act.
India owes no responsibility towards economic refugees from Bangladesh, whatever be their religion. India also owes no responsibility towards non-Sunni religious persecution refugees from Pakistan or even Hindus or Sikhs from Pakistan. India is for Indians.
Shame to Mumbai Muslims who ever associated with the act. An Elite delegation of Educated Muslims could have reached some Central Minister and requested to handover what ever possible charity clothes,raw food, financial support if they can. This has brought worse name for the community.
The organizers and those who gave procative speeches must be questioned and if found guilty should be asked to pay for the damage to the public property as well as compensation for the two victims who died in the riots.
These people who claim to be Muslim leaders have their personal agendas to fill and are not bothered with the welfare of society.
I can only hope that Muslims themselves realize that they are being exploited as pawns and refrain from participating in such rallies.
Now, as always, common muslims will be arrested and tried for the crimes perpetrated by some reckless individuals.
Yes, Muslims are facing problems but this is not the way out. As someone has mentioned earlier it would only embarass and alienate common muslims from the mainstream society.
Hope the common sense and truth prevails.
First, we need a law for protection against mob violence. Second,
people should not be allowed to carry sticks and knives or any deadly
weapon in a meeting or public place. Police should have arrested
everybody who were carrying sticks or knives without justification in
a crowded place without disrupting free speech. Third, we need
impartial police force. For example police chiefs can be appointed
for fixed period of time with guarantee for their job security. Just
saying that someone is saying something "provocative", without any
accepted standard, is itself could provocative. If anybody violates
Indian Penal Code, full force of law should be used against him. But
one kind of action with Hindu criminals and another kind of action
with Muslim criminals will be counterproductive.
A strict action must be taken by the government otherwise this
incident(pre planned organised riot) may took over again in the
future.This will adversely affect our nation.The people behind the scene
and people directly involved must be arrested and punished.God bless
india!!!
It is ashamed that people have done such things in the month of "Ramzan", which is famous for peace, prayers & imparts the love towards each community.
But on the other hand we could not denied the plight of people in assam.....we have to democratically resolve the diffrences & live like human being.
There was a miserable failure of intelligence gathering and preparedness of the Mumbai police. Of late, the police are basking in the glory of raiding colleges, teenagers and restaurants and the local media were giving a good coverage. In fact, the police were neglecting the real, hard policing --- law and order problems caused by goondas, pro-Pakastani elements, rapists, professional killers etc.
First of all, who gave permission for this protest rally, ostensibly called by Raza Academy in the heart of the city when earlier requests by teachers and trade unions were rejected ? How can police allow such a rally of " agitated Muslims" when the Ramzan is on and only days left for Eid and Ganesh Chathurthi, the two festivals which can spark riots. Who sent over one lakh SMS inviting crowd? Moreover, a section of the police is not happy with the functioning of its chief which involves pampering a select group of officials. Ruling partner NCP is also misusing the police for its gains.
the fundamentalists should be put behind bars and tried for
treason charges,the way these people are getting away is amazing,the
administration is working with tied hands from the politicians who
always have a eye on the electoral gains from every move they
make,that;s the sole reason for india getting down with each passing day
Researcher all across the world know, 3 major monotheistic religions
followed in the world advocating non-tolerence to other religions.
Please it is time for people to get rid of religious
fanaticism/fundamentalism, and look for more peaceful world.
It is a well planned war against the nation. some bad elements think
they have the blessing of the pseudo-secularism. the police have
totally failed in protecting the people. the intelligence is sub-zero.
this country cannot prolong minority appeasement and pseudo-secularism.
The day will come when the corrupt politicians, who live on dividing
people for their vote bank politics, are exposed.
Where are the secular muslim community and why don't they condemn this act of violence and terror ? Assam violence was not religious , it was a illegal immigrant issue and a social issue . Why Muslim community is so sensitive to it ? Where are the muslim inteclectuals ? How do you justify your religion spreads peace?Why the organizers are not arrested till now ?Inept government and its policies will make India down.
Highly ashamed of what happened in mumbai..atrocities in mayanmar and the illegal immigrants in assam has got nothin to do with indian muslims ..and i understand that....i love my country.i am a proud indian ..and i am a strong believer of islam..of one god.. .and just coz of small section of ignorant illiterate fanatics buffoons entire religion gets blamed...islam indeed means peace..but ppl who take violence in the name of religion are NOT muslims...as in true muslims...
They destroyed the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', what else needs to be said about their hateful mentality? Please give the people of India justice, by rigorously punishing these terrorists, or this is going to fuel monumental amount of polarity.
This was one of the saddest days of my life.
Thank you Mumbai police for containing the entire situation immediately.
I stay at fort very close to the stage set by these people i was scared that these people might enter and start rampaging the streets.
But thanks to Mumbai Police the entire situation was contained immediately before they could start rampaging further more.
Let us hope The Hindu gives a true report highlighting the unwarranted damage to public
property and condemn the atrocities unequivocally !
Who is this Raza Academy? Who gave it the right to fight for muslims? Every tom and jerry thinks he can get away using religion. Too many jobless people found on streets creating violence!! None of those who damaged the Amar Javan memorial should be spared. Why cannot The Hindu have guts to tell the truth. Rogues are rogues..they cannot have religious tag and behave violently under the pretext of religion or fighting for rights.
This senseless violence by is to be condemned. Yet your paper is silent.
Unfortunately some politicians sometimes may be innocently add fuel to the fire. Some days back Asadudin Owaisi stated in the parliament about the possible radicalisation of muslims if the rehabilitation problem is not resolved. Such statements need to be avoided.
It's actually the time to come together and solve the problems prevailing in Assam,not to fight among ourselves and destroy public property and internal peace.Let the government work upon this and find the suitable solution.
How dare these people do this. Why the protesters had to indulge in violence.The reason is simple that such elements know that they will get away with it. I commend the decision of Maharashtra Chief Minister to hold an enquiry.
Can The Hindu let people know that protesters broke the glass case of
Amar Javan? Why they need to demolish something which is made to make us
remember the sacrifices by Indian army? Traitors they are and you should
let people know about it.
The protests by a section of the minorities in Mumbai against Assam ethnic violence were absolutely avoidable. Such protests will only further alienate the Indian minorities from the majority community- a scenario that suits the right-wingers. The protests appear to be stage managed and well-planned with the sole objective to shatter peace maintained in Mumbai and elsewhere for quite some time. The organizations hitherto unheard of have fomented trouble with minimum efforts to cash in on from the Assam violence and Myanmar violence. Such activities must be nipped in the bud before they assume alarming proportions to trouble the communal amity and peace. In fact, the Indian minorities are better off than their counter parts elsewhere in the Asian continent. Admittedly, the Indian democracy and the built-in tolerance in Hinduism have taken good care of the minority interests despite occasional rabble-rousing by the right wing parties.
This is unfortunate . Take action against anti nationals .
These people should be highly punished or Just leave it for public.
Shamsher Khan Pathan's pension must be withheld by govt as a lesson forall govt servants not to take part in illegal activities.
Please Email the Editor