Violence erupted after Alvida namaz (on the last Friday of Ramzan) in Lucknow as a mob, numbering about 500, went berserk and indulged in large-scale violence, targeting mediapersons in particular and even beating up several bystanders who were caught unawares. The mayhem on a six-km stretch, from Pucca Pul (formerly Hardinge Bridge) near the Tile Wali Masjid and Asafi Imambara in the Old City to Dharna Sthal opposite the Vidhan Bhavan building, continued for about an hour notwithstanding a strong police presence on account of Alvida. Several persons, including five press photographers and TV cameramen, were injured in stone throwing and other violence, and over a dozen vehicles, including those of a TV channel, damaged and torched. Roadside shops at Buddha Park and near the Scientific Convention Centre were ransacked by the miscreants, who also roughed up some tourists at Buddha Park and the adjacent Haathi Park.
An FIR was lodged against unknown persons at the Hazratganj police station by the district administration. No arrests have been made.
Members of the All India Samyavak Backward Buddhjivi Employees Samiti (AISBES), who were staging a dharna at Dharna Sthal, were also roughed up by the protesters and their banners torn down. Ashokanandji, a Buddhist and president of AISBES, said three vehicles, including his Maruti 800, were damaged.
Violence against Muslims in Assam and Myanmar was said to be the cause of a protest march. But it is not known who was behind the decision to gherao Vidhan Sabha and who made speeches at Pucca Pul, inciting the mob. A dharna was staged at Dharna Sthal by the State unit of the Jamiatul Ulema Hind in protest against the atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar, but the JUH denied it was involved in violence and arson.
Lucknow Senior Superintendent of Police R.K. Chaturvedi told The Hindu that investigations were launched to find out the source of violence. Asked who made provocative speeches, he said a video grab was being examined. The SSP, however, said the protest march converged at the JUH dharna site at Dharna Sthal.
Buddha Park ravaged
It all started as people were returning home after prayers around 2 p.m. Some people gathered at Pucca Pul and gave a call to gherao Vidhan Sabha. Soon hundreds of youth and others joined the march. They first ransacked Buddha Park, broke the entrance gates, and beat up the security guards and some tourists. A similar situation prevailed at Haathi Park, Shaheed Smarak and Parivartan Chowk en route to Vidhan Bhavan and at Dharna Sthal. Mediapersons were beaten up at all these places and their cameras snatched. Some protesters carried the metal poles of road dividers, while others wielded bricks and blunt weapons.
The police used force to disperse the violent protesters, but only after the mediapersons protested and even staged a dharna at the Allahabad Bank crossing at Hazratganj.
Principal Secretary (Home) R.M. Srivastava has assured them that strict action would be taken against the culprits.
Two mediapersons have been hospitalised
Why is the report silent on the fact that the statute of Buddha has been desecrated when a photograph of the act has appeared in the media? Is India sliding into a state of civil war?
Media should take these small incidents in its stride in a sporting
manner.In India we should follow the teachings of mahatma and show our
second cheek if first one is slapped.Through this peace gets established
Akhilesh is following his father Mulayam!! Hence all these violence is natural!
Where is Digvijay Singh and what has he to say about Assam violence and
its repercussions in other parts of the country?It is easy to comment on Gujarat but not on Assam for this politician.
as the things going on in our country now a days same things was happened before independence. Rumors are spreading all over country, no body is feeling safe. what government of India is doing for the safety of the not only northeast people but also for any person who may be belong to any country it may be Bangladesh. this may lead to another partition of our country. Government priority must be nation building not vote bank politics. they have to take strict action against those people which are responsible and that thing will be showing by action not only in talking.
This is not a good news at all.These incidents,if not controlled right now,may spread to every
nook & corner of the country.
While what is happening in different parts of the nation as a sequel to the ongoing and recent killings in Assam is unfortunate, it would be in the best interest of safety and peace in the country, if the media plays its role responsibly and does its duty without any bias and favor whatsoever.
Violence is condemned in Islam.
Wonder there is no projection of opression and killing of muslims in Assam.
Always the same story;Only Bad image of muslims.
God save this country. What was police doing? After mayhem in Mumbai,
they have done it again in Lucknow.If this is not checked now then we
will go Pakistan's way.
Total lack of law and order situation in India especially in Assam has started to trigger widespread violence throughout India.
These people must go to Assam to protest, not here...no..no...Swift
police action should be taken so that this incident does not happen
again
Why they went to prayers at all when they had plans about rioting. It's not all and it's not some but it's many who are bringing a bad name to certain faith. Anyone reading this news will easily conclude that such places have become radicalized.
This is such a shameful act on those culprits. It's disgusting. "Mother India" is getting ripped-off by these unholy acts and with our politicians lacking spine to tackle these situations, its next to pathetic.
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