Bhiwandi city police in Thane district of Maharashtra issued summonsto suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and askedher to appear for enquiry in the matter tomorrow, June 13.While responding to the summon sent by Bhiwandi police, Nupur Sharma's lawyer has sent mail to the police seeking a few more days for her to appear for the enquiry. (ANI)
Two accused namely Mohd Faheem Khan & Nisar Ahmad arrested by police pertaining to holding posters, raising slogans & hooting against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma & expelled leader Naveen Jindal during an unlawful assembly at Jama Masjid in Delhi on June 10: Delhi Police (ANI)
"The existence of a blasphemy law tends to encourage both excessive frivolous litigation and mob misconduct by those who take the law into their own hands. I think our current hate speech laws and Section 295A are quite adequate to deal with such misbehaviour," Tharoor said.
The issue is of the willingness of the police and local authorities to enforce the law, without fear or favour, against whoever violates it, he said.
"Exemplary action against any and all offenders will have a salutary effect in reducing such cases in future," the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram said.
According to a senior police official , majority of the protesters in Kanpur, Prayagraj, Saharanpur and Moradabad were minors.
Two people identified as Mohammad Mudassir Kaifi and Mohammad Sahil died and over two dozen people were injured in protests and subsequent clashes that rocked the state capital on Friday over the remarks made by two suspended BJP functionaries against Prophet Mohammad, officials said.
Shakib Ansari, the brother of Sahil, however, said he did not participate in Friday’s protest march.
"My brother Md Sahil had gone to Ranchi Main Road for some work after the Friday Namaz. He was not part of the procession, but he received bullet injuries and died,” Ansari told reporters.
The situation in Murshidabad's Beldanga, Rejinagar and Shaktipur police station areas, where internet services have been suspended following violent protests over the row, is also peaceful.
More than 100 people have been arrested in the two districts for their alleged involvement in the violent incidents.
Police conducted route marches in several areas of Howrah district including Uluberia, Panchla, Jagatballavpur and Dhulagarh on Saturday night as large contingents of security forces were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
The two were arrested on Saturday night and have been identified as Mohd Nadeem (43), resident of Jama Masjid area, and Faheem (37), resident of Turkman Gate area, they said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chauhan said, "On June 10, an FIR was registered in Jama Masjid police station against the protesters under section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Indian Penal Code as a protest was held in Jama Masjid area after Friday prayers without any permission. Also, section 153A IPC has been added for promoting communal disharmony in the area."
Investigation is on to identify other persons involved, she said.
The Bhiwandi police in Maharashtra have summoned suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma to record a statement on Monday in connection with her alleged objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammad, an official said on Sunday. Besides, expelled BJP functionary Naveen Kumar Jindal has also been asked by the Bhiwandi police in Thane district to record his statement on June 15 over his alleged controversial tweets against Prophet Mohammad, senior police inspector Chetan Kakade told reporters. The Bhiwandi police had registered a case against Sharma following a complaint lodged by a representative of the Raza Academy on May 30
The district administration suspended the internet services on June 10 after the protest over the controversial remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma turned violent.
BJP on Saturday said the violence in Ranchi in which two lives were lost was the outcome of weak leadership and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren "in the interest of the state".
A case was registered at the Gopiganj police station after a procession, in support of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, was taken out on Saturday evening despite prohibitory orders being in place, an official said.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels | Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks