Although it has been 2 weeks since former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma made statements about Prophet Muhammad and then apologised and retracted, the death threats issued by Islamists seem to have no end. While the threats from the streets and even on Twitter are far more visible, threats issued on Instagram have gone under the radar so far.
In a video that has now come to light, three youths were seen openly threatening to avenge the alleged blasphemy committed by the ex-BJP leader.
“She has insulted our Prophet. It is the duty of the law to hang her. And if we take the matter in our hands (which is justice as per Islamists), don’t label us as terrorists,” they were heard as saying. A Twitter user named Sanghis United had posted the video clip and demanded action from the Kota police in Rajasthan.
One Instagram user (@kaniatkhan100) called for the decapacitation of Nupur Sharma’s head. “Gustak-e-Nabi ki ek hi sazasarr tann se juda (The punishment for blasphemy is death).”
Screengrab of the Instagram post
Another Islamist named Fatima marked the image of Nupur Sharma with a red marker and vowed to not tolerate any ‘insults’ hurled at Prophet Muhammad.
Screengrab of the Instagram post
One Islamist shared a beheading scene from the web series ‘Ertugrul’ and morphed the image of BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma onto the face of the convict.
In a video posted by one Haider Ali, a man could be seen inciting his co-religionists to murder the former BJP spokesperson. “By looking at this gathering, you can realise how much we love our Prophet… The punishment for insulting him is Death,” he said.
In a video posted by ‘journalist’ Usama Hazari, he was seen endorsing an Islamist who called for the reinstatement of the Khilafat. The Khilafat movement, aimed at pan-Islamism, was led by Muslims against the British colonial rule in India.
Mahatma Gandhi had announced his support for the Khilafat movement, who himself was leading the non-cooperation at that time. Gandhi had dreamt of achieving Indian independence through ‘Hindu-Muslim unity’, and this had resulted in the Congress party joining hands with the Muslim League against British India.
After the Khilafat movement began to fade, communal tension brewing underneath the facade of ‘Hindu-Muslim unity’ surfaced.
Kashmiri Youtuber enacts beheading of Nupur Sharma
On Friday (June 10), a Kashmir-based Youtuber digitally recreated the act of beheading the former BJP spokesperson. The accused, identified as Faisal Wani, had posted a disturbing video on his Youtube channel named ‘Deep Pain Fitness’.
In the said video, Wani could be heard as saying, “No action…Gustak-e-Rasool ki eki hi saza… Sarr Kalam (The punishment for blasphemy is beheading).”The Youtuber then proceeded to behead an image of Nupur Sharma with an axe.
The gory video also showed Wani, holding the former BJP leader’s severed head and tossing it away with disgust. The matter came to light after journalist Aditya Raj Kaul posted a snippet of the video on Twitter. Following outrage on social media, Wani claimed innocence in the hopes of averting legal action.
Wani, who enacted the beheading of the former BJP spokesperson, lamented how his video was shared by the media. “I have said in my earlier videos that my intention is never to hurt religious sentiments. Because our religion (Islam) teaches us tolerance,” he claimed.
Due to an ongoing dispute over ownership of the 2.5-acre Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet, the Karnataka Police, in partnership with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has decided to install closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) around the 2.5-acre Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet.
After a few Hindu organisations sought clarity on why just one community was permitted to use the site when it was under the BBMP, the BBMP recently said that the land belongs to them and that members of all communities can use it with permission from the Joint Commissioner, BBMP (West).
The department met with BBMP officials and decided to install CCTV cameras around Idgah Maidan, according to a senior police officer. “Twelve CCTV cameras are being fixed surrounding the site. The cameras come with 4MP Zoom and 4K Clarity features and will be connected to monitor the premises. Chamrajpet police station will have access to the footage,” he said.
The Central Muslim Association (CMA), which presented paperwork and records to the BBMP on Thursday supporting their claim to the site, stated on Friday that while they were unaware of the intentions for CCTVs to be placed there, they would not oppose it since it would boost security surrounding the land.
Hindu organisations are asking for the site to be made accessible for events such as Independence Day, International Yoga Day, Ganesha Festival, and others. Tushar Girinath, the BBMP’s Chief Commissioner, had previously indicated that the ground was listed as BBMP property in some records, despite the fact that some documents from the Supreme Court order were missing. The CMA, on the other hand, has presented through tapal the Gazette Notification documents from 1965, which prove that the land is within its control.
S M Srinivasa, special commissioner and West Zone in-charge, stated that everything is being done to ensure the area’s security.
The brutal campaign launched by Islamists against Nupur Sharma, the former BJP spokesperson is only becoming more intense with every passing day. After the Jumma Namaz on Friday, June 10, radical Islamists not only wreaked havoc in states like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Maharashtra, Delhi, and West Bengal but also in various regions of Uttarakhand.
Muslims reportedly protested in Rudrapur, Kela Khera, Bazpur, Jaspur, Khatima, and Kichha tehsil in the Uddham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand after the Friday Namaz on June 10.
Rudrapur in Uddham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand saw Muslims raising slogans against the ex-BJP spokesperson and former BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal and demanding their arrest. Islamists had protested for about 20-minutes after which the Police forces reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The crowd was dispersed and for the next two hours, the police team remained on the scene to make sure no untoward incident takes place.
According to Manjunath TC, the SSP of Udham Singh Nagar the police had prior information about the protests which is why the teams were dispatched to the affected areas immediately and the situation was brought under control.
The police further informed that, on being forced by protesting Islamists, shopkeepers in Kela Khera had kept the market closed until noon on June 10. Following this, dozens of people gathered at the gates of the Kela Khera police station. A team of five people went inside to hand over a memorandum addressed to the President of India to SO Bhuvan Chandra Joshi. They demanded the immediate arrest of former BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community by remarking on the Prophet Muhammad.
The majority of shops in the Idgah Market on Rampur Road in Bazpur were also forced to remain shut. A group of Islamists under the leadership of the city Imam Mohammad Ayyub Noori submitted a memorandum to SDM Seema Vishwakarma on Friday in Jaspur demanding strict action against Nupur Sharma.
Haridwar in Uttarakhand kept on high alert keeping in view the violent protest that emerged in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur
Meanwhile, citing the tense situation in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, which erupted after tens of thousands of Islamists stormed the streets, forcing stores to close their doors and raising slogans against the former BJP spokesperson, the Uttarakhand police have issued a high alert in Haridwar. Police teams have been deployed in and around markets and religious places to avert any untoward incident.
Islamists run amok in Saharanpur demanding the arrest of Nupur Sharma
On June 10, Islamists had hit the streets in several parts of Uttar Pradesh like Saharanpur, Lucknow, Deoband, Moradabad and Prayagraj to protest against Nupur Sharma. In Saharanpur and Prayagraj especially, the protest had taken a violent turn with the protestors pelting stones at the security forces after sloganeering.
Visuals had emerged from the protest site in Saharanpur where tens of thousands of Islamists were seen crowding onto the streets raising anti-Nupur Sharma slogans. The police intervened and tried to disperse the crowd but seemed incapable to do so in front of the huge crowd of protestors. The protestors had reportedly tried to march toward the Ghantaghar in Saharanpur. Police had to then resort to light lathicharge to disperse the mob.
In another video shared by NDTV, Muslims in large numbers gathered in a locality in Saharanpur after the Friday Namaz and forced shopkeepers to shut their shops. They also raised slogans against the ex-BJP spokesperson and demanded her immediate arrest.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has advised state and union territory police chiefs to be prepared and attentive as they would be on target following violent protests around the country yesterday after Friday prayers, with Muslim mobs pelting stones and getting violent in various cities.
The Home Ministry issued a statement to police in all states and union territories after many acts of violence were reported from various parts of the country in reaction to statements made by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and expelled politician Naveen Jindal regarding Prophet Muhammad.
According to a top Ministry of Home Affairs source, state and union territory police have been instructed to be cautious during the protests because they may be targeted.
“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 MHA official said.
He went on to say that many directives had been issued to keep an eye on fringe individuals who were making hate speeches. All states have been requested by the Ministry of Home Affairs to take preventative measures, monitor borders, and identify vulnerable locations.
Meanwhile, violent protests erupted across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Punjab, Hyderabad, and Gujarat in response to the leader’s disputed statements. As slogan-shouting demonstrators carrying banners sought the arrest of the leaders accused, authorities in Jammu enforced a curfew in a few districts and portions of the Kashmir Valley observed a shutdown, while prohibitory orders were issued in parts of Ranchi.
Following Friday prayers, a big crowd gathered outside Delhi’s Jama Masjid to protest against suspended BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma. a similar demonstration was reported in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Thousands of Islamists swarmed onto the streets, shouting anti-Nupur Sharma slogans. The police intervened and attempted to disperse the gathering, but they were unable to do so in the face of such a large mob.
On the 10th of June, Islamists pelted stones at policemen in the holy city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. Despite the police’s deployment of tear gas and lathicharge to manage the scene, the situation still remains tense in the region.
On the 10th of June 2022, Islamist mobs ran riot in numerous parts of the country following the Friday Namaz. The extremists had taken to the streets to protest against the innocuous comment on Prophet Muhammad by the ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, like many other states, saw the protests turn extremely violent, with outraged Islamists resorting to stone-pelting, arson, and vandalism. In some places, these mobs even opened fire.
According to reports, at least two rioters succumbed to their injuries this morning (June 11) in Jharkhand’s Ranchi after protests erupted in the city on Friday. The rioters who died due to bullet injuries were identified as Mudassir alias Kaifi and Sahil.
In Rachi, Jharkhand, vehicles were torched and vandalized and stone-pelting occurred during the protests. A local Police officer was also injuredduring the violence along with some other police personnel. As per reports, the rioters also opened fire.
Police had also fired in the air besides resorting to lathi-charge to control the mob which spilt out on the road after Friday prayers and pelted stones and shouted slogans.
Till late evening on Friday, six injured were brought to Sadar Hospital. Two others had sustained bullet injuries and were referred to RIMS hospital where they succumbed to their injuries on Saturday.
Following the violence during the protests against Nupur Sharma, a curfew has been imposed in the violence-hit areas in Ranchi. The internet service has also been suspended. The administration has asked the citizens not to venture out or will be taken into custody. Section 144 has been imposed.
227 people arrested in Uttar Pradesh after Islamists run riots to protest against Nupur Sharma
Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, the police have arrested at least 229 rioters after violent protests erupted in several cities across the state on Friday. Of these, 48 people were arrested in Saharanpur, 68 in Prayagraj, 50 in Hathras, 25 in Moradabad, 08 in Ferozabad and 28 in Ambedkarnagar.
Besides, the Prayagraj police have named at least 70 people in an FIR filed after the city saw heavy stone-pelting on the police forces by Islamists after the Friday Namaz on June 10. The police have also registered an FIR against more than 5000 unidentified miscreants. A heavy police force has been deployed in the Atala area of Prayagraj where violence happened yesterday. Section 144 has been imposed in the area.
On June 10, Islamists had hit the streets in several parts of Uttar Pradesh like Saharanpur, Lucknow, Deoband, Moradabad and Prayagraj to protest against Nupur Sharma. In Prayagraj especially, the protest had taken a violent turn with the protestors pelting stones at the security forces after sloganeering. After the protests turned violent, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) lathi-charged the protestors to clear the area. However, the stone-pelting continued intermittently despite the best efforts of the security forces.
The incident took place in the Kareli Police Station area of Atala in the Prayagraj district. In anticipation of the violence following the Friday Namaz, police had deployed their personnel in large numbers in advance, but the violence still broke out. Hundreds of Islamists took to the streets and started targeting the police officials to protest. The District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police tried to calm the situation down but to no effect. The protesters were demanding the hanging of Nupur Sharma for her remarks.
Besides, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, Islamists had run riots in several other states like Telangana, Maharashtra, Delhi, and West Bengal after Friday prayers. In some places, the enraged mob set fire to Nupur Sharma’s effigy and posters, while in others, stones were thrown, injuring cops and citizens, and causing property damage.
Amidst the death threats received by Nupur Sharma after she made some innocuous comments on Prophet Muhammad, a Kashmir-based Youtuber has digitally recreated the act of beheading the former BJP spokesperson.
The accused, identified as Faisal Wani, had posted a disturbing video on his Youtube channel named ‘Deep Pain Fitness’. In the said video, Wani could be heard as saying, “No action…Gustak-e-Rasool ki eki hi saza… Sarr Kalam (The punishment for blasphemy is beheading).”
The Youtuber then proceeded to behead an image of Nupur Sharma with an axe. The gory video also showed Wani, holding the former BJP leader’s severed head and tossing it away with disgust.
Kashmir based YouTuber Faisal Wani with YouTube Account of Deep Pain Fitness shares most violent graphic video showing him beheading Nupur Sharma. Hope @KashmirPolice acts in time before he provokes further violence and rioting. Brainwashed idiot. This is scary. @JmuKmrPolicepic.twitter.com/cJL1VRIW79
The matter came to light after journalist Aditya Raj Kaul posted a snippet of the video on Twitter.
He wrote, “Kashmir-based YouTuber Faisal Wani with YouTube Account of Deep Pain Fitness shares most violent graphic video showing him beheading Nupur Sharma. Hope KashmirPolice acts in time before he provokes further violence and rioting. Brainwashed idiot. This is scary.”
Following outrage on social media, Wani claimed innocence in the hopes of averting legal action. On Saturday (June 11) night, he claimed, “Yesterday, I had made a VFX video about Nupur Sharma which went viral all over India. And an innocent person (beguna) such as me got implicated in the controversy.”
Wani, who enacted the beheading of the former BJP spokesperson, lamented how his video was shared by the media. “I have said in my earlier videos that my intention is never to hurt religious sentiments. Because our religion (Islam) teaches us tolerance,” he claimed.
The Youtuber continued, “I agree that I made the gory video but my intention was not to promote violence. This is why I have deleted that video. If anyone is hurt by my actions, I am extremely sorry for that. I am a simple guy.”
He made an emotional appeal to his audience by claiming that his source of livelihood had taken a hit in recent times. “I hope you will make this video viral too like my other video. This is how everyone will know that I am apologetic about my actions,” he further asserted.
Islamists issue death threats to Nupur Sharma, announce bounties on her head
Islamists have continued to hound and threaten the ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and her family since the time Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair shared her video with a commentary on Prophet Mohammad to encourage trolls to attack her.
In the last week of May 2022, during a news debate, Nupur Sharma asked what if she makes offensive remarks about Islam the way people were making offensive remarks about Shivling and Hinduism.
Since then, the intimidation campaign against the former BJP spokesperson has continued unabated, with domestic and foreign Islamists baying for her blood. Multiple death and beheading threats have come her way.
A number of FIRs have also been filed against her in different states of India. Despite her suspension from the BJP over her alleged ‘blasphemy’ and subsequent apology, Islamists have continued to target her with threats. There are multiple bounties on her head as well now ranging from Rs 20 lakhs to 1 Crore.
The worsening situation over the remarks reached rock bottom today, on the 10th of June 2022 as Islamist mobs ran riot in numerous parts of the country following the Friday Namaz.
In some places, the enraged mob set fire to Nupur Sharma’s effigy and posters, while in others, stones were thrown, injuring cops and citizens, and causing property damage.
In response to the recent ‘controversy’ over alleged ‘blasphemy’ by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Imtiyaz Jaleel has said that Islam is a religion of peace and they demand that Nupur Sharma should be hanged. Jaleel made this statement while addressing the media after a protest of enraged Islamists in front of the office of the divisional commissioner of Aurangabad in Maharashtra on 10th June 2022.
#WATCH Islam is a religion of peace, people are angry…Nupur Sharma should be hanged. If she’s allowed to let-go easily, then such things won’t stop. Law should be brought to take action against those who make such remarks against any religion, sect…: AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel pic.twitter.com/jUKkmvDb4V
Demanding capital punishment for Nupur Sharma, Imtiyaz Jaleel said, “Islam is a religion of peace. People are angry. We too demand that Nupur Sharma should be hanged. If she is allowed to let go easily, then such things won’t stop. Law should be brought to take action against those who make such remarks against any religion, or sect. Mere dismissing from the party is not an action.”
Jaleel further added, “Action should be taken against Nupur Sharma and Navin Kumar Jindal for the derogatory remarks they made about Prophet Muhammad. I would like to appeal to Muslims of India that they should not remain content only with protesting in the streets but they should support us and vote for us so that we reach the Parliament in large numbers and ask the government to make a strict law against blasphemy. Now it’s up to the government when it arrests Nupur Sharma and takes action against her.”
“After Nupur Sharma gave that statement, we were expecting the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to kick her out on the same night. They should have given a clear message that such comments will not be tolerated. That TV channel should have immediately stopped the show. They should have said that we will not tolerate such comments on our TV channel”, Jaleel went on to add.
Islamists have continued to hound and threaten the ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and her family since the time Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair shared her video with a commentary on Prophet Mohammad to encourage trolls to attack her. In the last week of May 2022, during a news debate, Nupur Sharma asked what if she makes offensive remarks about Islam the way people were making offensive remarks about Shivling and Hinduism.
Since then, the intimidation campaign against the former BJP spokesperson has continued unabated, with domestic and foreign Islamists baying for her blood. Multiple death and beheading threats have come her way. A number of FIRs have also been filed against her in different states of India. Despite her suspension from the BJP over her alleged ‘blasphemy’ and subsequent apology, Islamists have continued to target her with threats. There are multiple bounties on her head as well now ranging from Rs 20 lakhs to 1 Crore.
Comprehensive plans drawn by the local administration to deal with violent protests that erupted after Friday Namaz in Kanpur last week met with failure on June 10 as legions of Islamists hit the streets protesting against Nupur Sharma for her remarks on Prophet Muhammad and raising violent slogans against her.
Meanwhile, the All India Sunni Ulema Council wrote a letter to all Imams, requesting that they urge worshippers to return home immediately after prayers. In his statement, however, Maulana Haji Salim asked the protesters to embrace the Gandhian way of protest. Three days after violence swept Kanpur, OpIndia visited the riot-affected region on June 6 to talk to locals about the incident.
#कानपुर: ऑल इंडिया सुन्नी उलमा काउंसिल के हाजी सलीम ने शहर में मस्जिदों के इमामओं से अपील की है कि कल जब जुम्मे की नमाज में लोग आए तो उनसे अपील की जाए कि नमाज पढ़कर वह सीधे अपने घरों और कारोबार के लिए जाएं। शहर में अमन चैन बनाए रखना हर बाशिंदे की जिम्मेदारी है @adgzonekanpurpic.twitter.com/3zJkq8X3Se
— UttarPradesh.ORG News (@WeUttarPradesh) June 9, 2022
Several Hindu stores near the area of the violence
The stretch between the parade crossroads and Yatimkhana was the most affected by the violence on June 3. This distance is just under half a kilometre. There are several Hindu stores in this area. This location, however, is reported to be a Muslim-majority region. Chanda Medical, Tandon Xerox, Meera Paints, Usha Pathology, Bhatia Restaurant, and the clinics of Dr Abhishek and Dr Prasad are among the commercial establishments located here. In the midst of these businesses, were one or two stores named Khan Chain and Leather or Raju Chain. During our visit, we saw the shutters of all these stores closed.
Chandreshwar Hata was the target
The OpIndia crew noticed a man with Shikha on his head amidst high security at the parade square, going about his normal routine. On the way there, several more individuals were going about their business, greeting each other with Ram-Ram, a salutation that Hindus in Uttar Pradesh normally use as an acknowledgement of one’s arrival or departure. They all declined to speak on the camera for the fear of retribution, but they did share their experiences.
They told, “We, a small group of Hindus, live in this area. Our locality is called Chandreshwar Mohalla, and it is home to a few hundred Hindus. On the day of the event, an attempt was made to target our area in the guise of protest. We only survived because of the quick action of security forces.”
Migration from this area exceeds that from Kairana
OpIndia spoke to one Chetan Vajpayee alias Sarvesh Vajpayee, a resident of Chandreshwar Mohalla. He told, “Previously, there was a large leather business behind our neighbourhood. It’s now a readymade leather industry. The majority of the individuals at the market are Muslim. They have to commute around the locality right now to get to that market. If they can conquer this area, their market will get straight access to the main road.”
Vajpayee further told, “The day we lose this locality, Hindus will not be seen in this area again. The last 3% of the Hindus in this area are the target of the 97% of Muslims here. This mohalla had attracted the headlines even in the Ram Mandir issue of 1992 and the Delhi controversy of 2001. In those days, the Hindu population in this area was significantly higher. So we could resist such attacks at that time. Migration in Kanpur is in all probability higher than that happened in Kairana.”
Violence erupted at the site where Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was murdered
Chetan Vajpayee also recalled a historic incident while speaking with OpIndia. The Sunahari Masjid is around 300 meters from the parade square where the incident occurred. In the year 1931, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, a journalist and an Indian National Congress leader, was killed during the communal riots when he was reportedly trying to rescue trapped Hindus from a murderous Muslim mob.
“On June 3, the violent crowd was on the same road. Suddenly, a youth appeared in front of our mohalla, waving handkerchiefs and directing the group of rioters towards our homes. The video clip of him waving his handkerchief went viral on social media. At the time, there were only around a half-dozen police on the spot. They attempted to disperse the mob, but the rioters began pelting stones,” Vajpayee said.
Hindus pelted the same stones back in self-defence
Chetan further said, “Stone pelting continued from there due to a lack of police personnel. A woman and a child in our locality were injured during this time. When the people on our side saw this, they became enraged, and they, together with the police, picked up the stones hurled by the crowd and flung them back at the rioters in self-defence. The rioters were later chased away by the cops.”
How come both sides are punished when only one of them is at fault?
Chetan further added, “After running away some distance, the mob again returned with stones and petrol bombs. The crowd included people from different parts of Kanpur. That’s why there’s a problem in identifying the miscreants. Today, those who are accusing the police of unilateral action should know that the mistake was also one-sided. What did we guys do? Eight of our people including a woman are injured in the stone-pelting. A boy’s elbow is broken.”
The plan was to set the Chandreshwar mohalla ablaze
“Police officers deployed around the streets were able to deflect the throng in other directions. It would have been tough to defend this area if the mob had proceeded in this way. If they disagree with Nupur Sharma, they should speak out against her. Why did they throw petrol bombs at our houses? Will they destroy the entire country if someone else says anything tomorrow?” Vajpayee said.
‘Reclaiming our properties was also one of the reasons for riots’
Chetan told, “The property owned by the majority of the individuals in this area are Muslims. The Mayor of Kanpur recently visited this area and cleared many temples from Muslim occupancy. This is also one of the causes for the rage among people that culminated in riots.”
Chetan said, “If really strict action is taken on these properties, a large part of Kanpur will be vacated. Many people who have gone to Pakistan have handed over all their properties to their relatives here. This is a big conspiracy against the country.”
Rioters are afraid of Yogi Government
Chetan Vajpayee, however, added that the rioters feared action from the Yogi Adityanath government. “The rioters’ planning actually failed. They had a misconception that the force would be far away in the security of the President and the Prime Minister. This is why they planned to do something big in the locality. Perhaps there was a plan for genocide or arson by entering our locality. However, within a few minutes, when a large number of forces arrived, the rioters had to flee. Even the police commissioner reached within 15 minutes which was not expected by the rioters too. There has been a lot of positive change in the Yogi government as compared to the previous governments,” Vajpayee recalled talking to OpIndia.
Love Jihad to target the girls in the Chandreshwar Mohalla
Vajpayee also informed us about the love jihad conspiracy against the Hindu girls living in this area. He said, “There was a conspiracy of love jihad against around 10-15 girls who live in our area. We were able to convince many of them. We are trying to counsel the rest, too. The police also cooperated with us in this regard.”
Chetan Vajpeyi told that the Hindus in the Chandreshwar Mohalla are afraid of the Muslim rioters. He said, “The truth is, we live here in perpetual fear. Tall buildings have been built next to our houses. Stones and bombs are thrown from those buildings. They are silent only if we let them do whatever they want to. The moment we resist something, the problem starts there. Let the police be deployed for our safety.”
A local Hindu leader Prakash Sharma said, “The intentions of the mob were quite dangerous. Chandreshwar Mohalla was their target. The administration controlled them at the right time by showing necessary strictness, otherwise, the situation would have been catastrophic.” Local BJP leader Sunil Bajaj also praised the promptness of the police administration on the day of the violence and said that the intentions of the miscreants were very dangerous.
The poison is rooted too deep within
Bhadauria drives an electric rickshaw in that area. He usually wears saffron clothes. He told OpIndia, “Once I went to a guest house in Kanpur in the same clothes. The owner of the guest house was a Muslim. I asked him for water and he scolded me and drove me away.”
Implying the severity of the situation, he said, “A policeman from the station of my area spotted me in this area. He recognized me and told me to go to another area and drive the rickshaw there.” Bhadauria said that he is working in Kanpur for the last thirty years.
About Hayat Zafar Hashmi
A local resident Salim told OpIndia that they never had a suspicion over Hayat Zafar Hashmi. He said, “This has been done by some people from outside. People of this area are not identified in the violence. Their faces are also not seen in the posters put up by the administration.”
Salim added, “The main accused are said live near Chamanganj, 2 km from here. Barawafat’s procession also takes place here, but for many years there has never been any violence during that.”
Mazars mushrooming in public places
While returning to the bus station, the OpIndia team noticed a Mazar just close to the road. The office of the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) of the Kanpur Police was also seen. The bus station is just a kilometre away from here. Apart from this, similar religious encroachments were seen on the roads at many other places in the city.
On 10th June 2022, the Press Club of India claimed derogatory remarks by Saba Naqvi in an attempt to mock Shivling that was found during the videography of the Gyanvapi complex of Varanasi cannot be called blasphemous. The Press Club of India has also demanded to withdraw the FIR registered against Saba Naqvi by the Delhi police.
A tweet from the official Twitter handle of the Press Club of India said, “The Press Club of India vehemently condemns the lopsided and highhanded manner of Delhi Police in lodging FIR against Saba Naqvi, senior journalist, and columnist.”
The Press Club of India vehemently condemns the lopsided and highhanded manner of Delhi Police in lodging FIR against Saba Naqvi, senior journalist and columnist. The whimsical way of Delhi Police in reaching out to her posts reflects Delhi Police’s more-than-eagerness to make…
In a subsequent tweet, it said, “The whimsical way of Delhi Police in reaching out to her posts reflects Delhi Police’s more-than-eagerness to make her posts blasphemous thereby registering her as accused of a crime which she has not committed at all. The Press Club demands immediate withdrawal of FIR against her and all on-going inquiries against her be stopped forthwith.”
…her posts blasphemous thereby registering her as accused for a crime which she has not committed at all. The Press Club demands immediate withdrawal of FIR against her and all on-going enquiries against her be stopped forthwith.
It is notable that Delhi Police, on Wednesday 8th June 2022, filed an FIR against ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, former BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal, ‘journalist’ Saba Naqvi, and others over allegations of promoting false information with an intention to create unrest in cyberspace. Other than the mentioned above, some names in the FIR include Shadab Chauhan, Maulana Mufti Nadeem, Abdur Rehman, Gulzar Ansari, Anil Kumar Meena, and Pooja Shakun. Rajasthan-based Maulana Mufti Nadeem had threatened to gouge the eyes of Nupur Sharma and chop off her hands in presence of state police.
Saba Naqvi had shared a picture of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre on 18th May 2022 to take a swipe at the Shivling discovered inside the Gyanvapi compound. Attributing it to Whatsapp, Naqvi shared an image of the huge dome of the centre with a caption that said, “Huge Shivling discovered at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.”
Saba Naqvi’s controversial tweet and subsequent apology. Image Source: www.Hindupost.in
However, soon after she shared the picture, a raft of social media users objected to her tweet, accusing Naqvi of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus by insulting Shivling and trivializing a consequential discovery made at the Gyanvapi mosque that could have profound implications in determining the result of the ongoing dispute. Naqvi later deleted the tweet and apologized for her callous tweet mocking Lord Shiva.
Similar ‘jokes’ on Shivling were shared by several others including TMC MP Mahua Moitra and Economic Times.
Shivling discovered inside the wuzukhana of Gyanvapi mosque
On completion of the videographic survey of Gyanvapi mosque on Monday (May 16), petitioner Sohan Lal Arya informed the media that a Shivling was found inside the complex of the disputed structure. The Shivling was reportedly recovered after draining out the water from wuzukhana, the place for ceremonial ablution that Muslims have to undergo before offering namaz.
Islamists have continued to hound and threaten the ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and her family since the time Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair shared her video with a commentary on Prophet Mohammad to encourage trolls to attack her. In the last week of May 2022, during a news debate, Nupur Sharma asked what if she makes offensive remarks about Islam the way people were making offensive remarks about Shivling and Hinduism.
Since then, the intimidation campaign against the former BJP spokesperson has continued unabated, with domestic and foreign Islamists baying for her blood. Multiple death and beheading threats have come her way. A number of FIRs have also been filed against her in different states of India. Despite her suspension from the BJP over her alleged ‘blasphemy’ and subsequent apology, Islamists have continued to target her with threats. There are multiple bounties on her head as well now ranging from Rs 20 lakhs to 1 Crore.
The worsening situation over the remarks reached rock bottom today, on the 10th of June 2022 as Islamist mobs ran riot in numerous parts of the country following the Friday Namaz. In some places, the enraged mob set fire to Nupur Sharma’s effigy and posters, while in others, stones were thrown, injuring cops and citizens, and causing property damage.
Huge protests at Delhi’s Jama Masjid
According to reports, after today’s Friday Namaz or Jumma, a large number of people gathered to protest against suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma outside Delhi’s Jama Masjid. Visuals have emerged showing the Muslims raising slogans against the ex-BJP spokesperson and former BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal and demanding their arrest.
#WATCH People in large numbers protest at Delhi’s Jama Masjid over inflammatory remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma & expelled leader Naveen Jindal, earlier today
The situation in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur is tense after Islamists launched a protest against Nupur Sharma
Meanwhile, a similar protest was also reported in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur area. In a video that has emerged from the protest site, tens of thousands of Islamists can be seen crowding onto the streets raising anti-Nupur Sharma slogans. The police intervened and tried to disperse the crowd but seemed incapable to do so in front of the huge crowd of protestors.
#WATCH Huge protest in UP’s Saharanpur over inflammatory statements of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and expelled BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal pic.twitter.com/H9z9sDvFWx
According to Hindustan Times, the protestors tried to march toward the Ghantaghar in Saharanpur. Police had to then resort to light lathicharge to disperse the mob. The situation there is said to be tense but under control.
In another video shared by NDTV, Muslims in large numbers gathered in a locality in Saharanpur after the Friday Namaz and forced shopkeepers to shut their shops. They also raised slogans against the ex-BJP spokesperson and demanded her immediate arrest.
? #BREAKING | Prophet remark row: Massive protests in multiple cities after Friday prayers
Muslim mob go on a rampage in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh
A huge crowd had gathered in UP’s Moradabad after Namaz, demanding the arrest of Nupur Sharma. In a video that emerged on social media from the protest site, the Islamist mob could be seen running away as the police resorted to lathicharge to control the situation.
#WATCH Huge crowd in UP’s Moradabad protests against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma demanding her arrest over her inflammatory remarks pic.twitter.com/DHWzKErs5p
Enraged over the alleged ‘blasphemous’ comments by Nupur Sharma, Islamists pelt stones at police in UP’s Prayagraj
Like many other places in the country, the holy city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh also saw heavy stone-pelting on the police forces by Islamists on the 10th of June. The situation continues to remain tense despite the use of tear gas and lathicharge by the police to control the situation.
Stone pelting in Prayagraj. The protest over Nupur Sharma’s inflammatory remark turned violent. Several police and para military personnel have been injured. pic.twitter.com/UfJKfLQ5mo
The incident took place in Kareli Police Station area of Atala in Prayagraj district. According to reports, the protest staged against Nupur Sharma quickly turned violent with the protestors pelting stones at the security forces after sloganeering. After the protests turned violent, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) lathi-charged the protestors to clear the area. However, the stone-pelting continued intermittently despite the best efforts of the security forces.
The Prayagraj ADG’s vehicle was also damaged during the stone-pelting in the area.
#WATCH Prayagraj ADG’s vehicle damaged after a protest erupted in Atala area over controversial remarks of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma & expelled BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal, earlier today
The ADG was on ground to control the law&order situation as a protest erupted pic.twitter.com/lCCYrTyBOq
Similarly, Islamists baying for Nupur Sharma’s blood also took to the streets in Firozabad. Shouting slogans and holding placards, the Islamist mob was demanding the arrest of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.
Stones pelted, vehicles torched, policemen injured in Jharkhand
There were also reports of policemen being injured while controlling an irate mob near Hanuman Temple in Ranchi after protests erupted with hundreds of Islamists demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
According to reports, the mob which spilled out on the road after Friday prayers pelted stones and shouted slogans. They torched and vandalized several vehicles compelling the Police to fire in the air besides resorting to lathicharge to control the situation. During the violence, a senior police officer was also injured during the violence along with some other police personnel.
#WATCH | Jharkhand: Protest over the controversial remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma turned violent in Ranchi. Vehicles were torched and vandalised and stone-pelting occurred. Injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/Z5FIndjZzf
During the protests, a video also went viral on social media where a policeman can be heard begging for reinforcements from his superiors to face the stone-pelting Islamists. The policeman even cries while making the request to his superiors.
कहीं पत्थर चला रहे हैं, कहीं गोली चल रही है। पुलिसवाला रो रहा है कि फोर्स भेजिए। कभी सर तन से जुदा गाएंगे, कभी रेप की धमकी देंगे और फिर कहेंगे लोग इस्लामोफोबिया का शिकार हैं। कभी तो खुद से भी पूछो कि जो करते हो उसको क्या कहे दुनिया। देश का तमाशा बनाकर रख दिया है। pic.twitter.com/XIWZCCvtfQ
In attempts to curb the violence in Ranchi, the local police also fired at the protestors after they refused to tone down their violent protests.
Visuals coming from #Ranchi, where the police started open fire at the muslims, who were protesting against impudent comments on Prophet Muhammad by now-suspended spokesperson of the BJP #NupurSharmapic.twitter.com/eu1vNXtxEC
— Razik Basrur | رازق بسرور (@razik_basrur) June 10, 2022
A large number of Islamists protested outside Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad demanding the arrest of Nupur Sharma
Like several places in the country, protests also erupted in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, with Islamists gathering outside the Mecca Masjid after the Friday prayers. The protesters raised slogans against Nupur Sharma for her alleged ‘blasphemous’ remarks against Prophet Mohammad.
Hyderabad Police, taking cognizance of the event, deployed heavy force and CRPF staff on the spot. The officers tried to pacify the situation and dispersed the Islamists from the spot. Reports mention that similar protests were also held at Kalapather, Mehdipatnam, Chandrayangutta, Shaheennagar, Saidabad, and other places in the city.
Islamists hit the streets in Kolkata to demand Nupur Sharma’s arrest
Thousands of Islamists thronged the road in Kolkata’s Park Circus 7-point crossing after the Friday Namaz to stage a protest against Nupur Sharma. During the protest, the Islamists carried black flags and raised slogans against Sharma. The 7-point crossing is one of the busiest intersections connecting important commercial areas like Ballygunge, Park Street, and Park Circus in Kolkata, and the Islamists kept this road blocked for hours to protest against Sharma, causing immense inconvenience to commuters.
#WATCH | West Bengal: A large number of people gather in protest at Park Circus in Kolkata against the controversial religious remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma & expelled leader Naveen Jindal pic.twitter.com/a8n5HQ0nky
Images have appeared wherein Islamists are seen hurling slippers at Nupur Sharma’s poster during the protest in Kolkata’s park circus area. The posters also have shoe marks on them, to deride the ex-BJP Spokesperson.
Visuals from protests in Kolkata, West Bengal (Source: The Quint)
Rioters torch police booth and vehicles in Howrah, West Bengal
A video has also surfaced on social media showing a police booth and vehicles getting torched in Howrah in West Bengal during the protests against Nupur Sharma. Yesterday, a huge mob protested against Sharma in Howrah, demanding the beheading of Nupur Sharma.
This video is from Howrah. Rioters burnt down Police booth and many vehicles. Yesterday CM Mamata Banerjee requested them with folded hands still they didnt listen. Dandvat Pranam may be ? pic.twitter.com/3xU2tCpc7N
Muslims protest across Maharashtra to demand action against Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal
Like in other states, Islamists also staged protests in several cities of Maharashtra on Friday demanding action against suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and her former party colleague Naveen Jindal for their remarks on Prophet Muhammad.
At least 3,000 protesters, including around 1,000 women, marched in Panvel, Navi Mumbai, demanding the arrest of Sharma and Jindal.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Women carry out a protest march in Navi Mumbai against the controversial remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma. pic.twitter.com/hiFVeSHZRE
According to a local police official, a delegation also presented a memorandum to the Panvel tehsildar.
Similar protests and marches were also held in the districts of Thane, Aurangabad, Solapur, Nandurbar, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Bhandara, Chandrapur, and Pune.
In some places, the protesting Muslims burnt posters and effigies of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal.
Posters of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal burnt in Maharashtra source: TNIE)
Raza Academy in Karnataka stages protest
Meanwhile, the Raza Academy in Karnataka also staged a demonstration at Muslim Chowk in Kalaburagi against Nupur Sharma.
Protests emerge in parts of Gujarat
Demanding immediate arrest of Nupur Sharma, members of the Muslim community held protests in some areas of Gujarat’s Ahmedabad and Vadodara as well on Friday.
Vadodara: Protests Against Nupur Sharma
ભાજપના પુર્વ રાષ્ટ્રીય પ્રવક્તા નુપુર શર્માનો વિરોધ વડોદરા શહેરમાં વધુ ઉગ્ર બની રહ્યો છે. સવારે વડોદરાના મચ્છી પીઠમાં નુપુર શર્મા અને નવીન જિંદાલના પોસ્ટર રસ્તા પર લગાડવામાં આવ્યા હતા. pic.twitter.com/Arkb6RJUpb
As part of the protest, shops and markets in the Muslim-dominated Dariyapur and Karanj neighbourhoods stayed closed. Several Muslim men gathered on a key route in Dariyapur with placards professing their love for Prophet Mohammad and demanding Sharma’s arrest.
According to them, Sharma and others who make such statements should face charges under the strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Tension mounts in Jammu and Kashmir as radical Islamists hit the streets in protest against ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma
Meanwhile, tension mounted in the Doda and Kishtwar areas of the Jammu region prompting authorities to impose a curfew there while parts of Kashmir observed a shutdown over Nupur Sharma’s remarks.
Sporadic incidents of stone-pelting were reported in Bhaderwah town despite the curfew. In defiance of the restrictions, some protesters took to the streets and hurled stones at security forces while shouting slogans.
As a precaution, internet services were snapped in the Kashmiri towns of Bhaderwah and Kishtwar, as well as the city of Srinagar.
Notably, a video from Jammu has also gone viral on the internet where beheading calls against Nupur Sharma were being given from a mosque. The threats, hurled by a Muslim cleric at the mosque, were directed at former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her comments on Times Now debate last month, where she cited Islamic Hadiths to comment on Prophet Muhammad.
Nupur Sharma’s effigy found hanging in Belagavi
Earlier in the day, it was reported how an effigy of Nupur Sharma was found hanging on the Fort Road in Belagavi. The local police said that the effigy was hanged at night on the cables on Fort Road in the city and it came to the notice of the police at dawn. The effigy has since been removed from the area described as ‘communally sensitive’.
