At least two persons were killed and more than 50 injured as a protest at the Azad Maidan here on Saturday against the recent Assam riots and genocidal acts against Muslims in Myanmar turned violent. A state of high alert was issued throughout Mumbai.
Tension and paranoia gripped the city as the three o’clock agitation, organised by the Raza Academy — a city-based organisation claiming to promote Islamic culture — suddenly erupted into violence with the protesters targeting police and mediapersons, setting vehicles afire, smashing cameras and chanting provocative slogans. The police resorted to lathi charge, lobbed tear gas shells and fired in the air to disperse the truculent crowd.
According to police reports, Mohammad Umar (17) and Altaf Sheikh, both of Mumbai, lost their lives in the violence.
In all, 11 vehicles, including three OB vans, were gutted, while 45 policemen and some photographers, including The Hindu’s Vivek Bendre, were injured and their cameras smashed in the melee.
“For a while, there were fears of a relapse of the situation [seen] during the 1992 riots. We have escaped by a hair’s breadth … The situation could have turned lethal. But things are under control in other parts of the city,” said Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik, refusing to answer questions whether the violence was spontaneous or pre-planned.
Around 30 police personnel were seriously injured while three civilians sustained bullet injuries.
The injured were rushed to the city’s Saint George’s Hospital and G.T. Hospital.
Train and bus services were hit hard. The miscreants damaged at least 31 BEST buses at the CST Depot, where glass pieces were lying strewn all over. Buses running towards south Mumbai were terminated en route.
“The protesters also shouted slogans on railway platforms,” A K Singh, Public Relations Officer, Central Railway, told The Hindu. There were stray incidents of violence but no local train was damaged.
Businesses in the vicinity remained closed.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who rushed to the Maharashtra capital from Yavatmal, assured the people that things were under control. Home Minister R.R. Patil urged citizens to desist from rumour-mongering.
Muslim organisations such as the Markazul Ma’arif Education and Research Centre have condemned the unruly behaviour of the protesters and called for peace.
Keywords: Assam riots, Mumbai protest, Azad Maidan Ground
The incident is unfortunate and must be condemned unequivocally.
Everyone has the right to protest, however without disrupting law and order. A thorough and quick probe must be carried out and punish the culprits. A small number of communal mongers can ruin a whole peaceful demonstration.
Protest was also against riots in Myanmar. Why are Indians creating riots in India for something that is going in some other country?
This is a shameul act, what has the public property in India to do with a problem in Myanmar. Also thousands of refugees from Mynamar recently landed in my city Hyderabad. India has enough of population, we are over burdended with more than our share of problems of all types, one cannot understand these riot instigators agendas and they should be arrested for their disturbance of peace.
A protest against violence in Assam turns violent. How ironic! It is so
sad that the land of the Mahatma still sees destruction of public
property in the name of protests. These protestors should have collected
aid for the refugees instead of torching buses, if they cared about the
cause.
I demand, strong action must be taken against this organization immediately. Strong action also must be taken on the issue of illegal Migrants immediately. Govt must not concede to any pressure irrespective to minority and majority. This action must be taken immediately otherwise, we as the nation have to pay a huge cost as we have paid in past. i also request to my brothers, if they are so concerned with illegal migrants then please pressurize the Bangladeh to treat their citizen well. You must thankful to god, that you are the part of such country where you can demonstrate freely against Nation’s benefit.
"chor ulta kotwal ko daante" - Thief blaming the innocent (roughly).
Am surprised it was Bangladeshi's refugees who attacked the native
Bodos and now it turns out to be some religious guys supporting
Bangladeshi's.
How ridiculous can this go? Our prayers for all those hurt in the
violence both in Mumbai/Assam but please you sleeping
Politicians/Administrators wake up.
Who are the protesters? Why not the media come out clearly and name the
protesters? Why fight shy in naming them as muslims? The violence in
Assam and Mumbai cannot be condoned. The govt should act firmly and
should not leave the protestersbecause of their religion. crime is a
crime!
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