29-Mar-2024  Srinagar booked.net

Culture - ReligionIndiaSouth Asia

Prophet Row: Protest Erupts Across India, Two Killed In Ranchi

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At least two persons were killed, and two dozen people were injured in the clashes during a protest in Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi on Friday against the blasphemous remarks by two (now suspended BJP leaders) against the last Islamic prophet.

The protestors were demanding the arrest of two former BJP leaders; Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.

As per reports, protests erupted in several towns and cities across the country on Friday, the protests also turned violent in UP’s Prayagraj and West Bengal’s Howrah. The protests in Delhi and parts of Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Bihar and Maharashtra were peaceful even as a shutdown was observed in Srinagar.

Moreover, Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi has been blanketed by heavy police cover as two persons succumbed, some Hindutva outfits have called for a bandh on Saturday, June 11, 2022 against the ‘violence’.

Around 2,500 police personnel, including one IG rank and DIG rank officer each, six SP rank officers, 100 DSP rank officers besides two Rapid Action Force (RAF) battalions, have been deployed in sensitive areas of Ranchi city, IG (Operations) Amol V Homkar told PTI.

“One of the deceased had gunshot wounds on his head, while the other had received bullet injuries on his neck. Post-mortem reports stated that both died due to gunshot wounds. Both were residents of Ranchi,” he said, adding that eight others are in the ICU.

Identities of the deceased have been ascertained.

Some Hindutva outfits have called for a Ranchi bandh on Saturday, asking traders to keep their shops shut in protest against the violence.

Condemning the violence, Governor Ramesh Bais has asked Chief Minister Hemant Soren to take strict action against those involved.

The violent protesters have been demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal for their 'controversial' remarks on Prophet Mohammad PBUH.

A senior MHA (Minstry of Home Affairs) official informed that they sent alerts to all state and Union Territory police to remain vigilant as they can be targeted during the violence.

"We have asked the policemen deployed to maintain law and order situation to be in proper riot gear. There will be a deliberate attempt to disturb peace in the country. Police and, if required, the paramilitary will also need to be on alert mode to counter any untoward situation," the official said.

He added that several instructions have been issued to keep a watch on fringe elements posting provocative speeches. "We have asked state police to identify the influencers posting live videos of violence and provocative speeches. Take required action against such people," he added.

The MHA has asked all the states to take preventive actions, keep a check on borders, and identified sensitive areas.

The order have been issued after the violence broke out in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj and protests were held at Moradabad, Saharanpur, and Firozabad.

Meanwhile, several other states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Punjab, Hyderabad, and Gujarat also faced massive protests against the leader's controversial remarks.

Muslim world across the globe has strongly denounced ‘derogatory’ remarks against the Prophet, and some superstores in Qatar, Kuwait, and UAE have removed Indian products with many Indian ambassadors being summoned from several embassies.