Amid the temple-mosque row that has erupted in the Srirangapatna town in Karnataka’s Mandya district, the Mysore Archaeological Department’s 1935 report has been brought to attention. As per reports, the archaeological department report stated that Tipu Sultan had demolished the Anjaneya Mandir and built Jamia Masjid after filling up the ground floor of the temple structure.
According to the reports, the then ruler of Mysore and Srirangapatna, Tipu Sultan demolished several temples to build mosques in the area. “Jumma Masjid was constructed by Tipu Sultan on top of the Anjaneya temple after filling up the latter’s ground floor,” Republic TV stated.
Reportedly, an ASI letter published in 2004, which cited the Mysore Archaeological Department’s 1935 report also stated that the Madarsa operating in the current Jamia Masjid premises is illegal. The letter as accessed by the Republic TV noted that the Waqf board is running the Madarsa illegally in the Masjid premises since 1979.
This is days after the members of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal organized the ‘Srirangapatna Chalo’ rally and gave a call to march toward the Jamia mosque in Srirangapatna to perform Hindu religious puja inside the Mosque. The Hindu organizations stated that the Jamia Mosque was built by Tipu Sultan in the year 1782 after demolishing a Hanuman temple.
On June 4, prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC act were imposed in the Srirangapatna town in Karnataka’s Mandya district ahead of the ‘Srirangapatna Chalo’ rally. A heavy police force was deployed in the town and 4 check posts were installed in the area as a precautionary security measure ahead of the program.
Karnataka | Section 144 CrPC imposed in Srirangapatna town of Mandya district from 6 am to 6 pm today in wake of ‘Srirangapatna Chalo’ call given by VHP for today.
Over 500 police personnel deployed, 4 check posts installed. Route march taken out in the presence of SP N Yatish. pic.twitter.com/vBMXQ3GXpO
The Hindu organizations earlier on May 16 had stated that the Jamia Masjid in Karnataka’s Mandya was originally an Anjaneya temple. They had sought permission to worship the Anjaneya idol in the mosque and had also demanded the ASI investigate the matter. The activists had sought permission to take bath in a pond situated on the premises of the mosque.
Reportedly, the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti has demanded a survey also at the palace of Tipu Sultan in Bengaluru, claiming that it has been built on land encroached from a temple. Mohan Gowda, the spokesperson of the Hindu outfit said, “Several people in the past have said that behind the Tipu Sultan summer palace, it was all Kote Venkataramana Temple and this was illegally encroached by Sultan. There used to be a Sanskrit school here as well. This Hindu temple was illegally encroached upon and a survey must be carried out”.
Also, last week, a group named ‘Narendra Modi Vichar Manch’ (NMVM) approached the Mandya deputy commissioner and claimed that the Masjid-e-Ala was ‘Moodala Bagilu Anjaneya Swami temple’. It had requested the deputy commissioner of Mandya to allow them to perform prayers to Hanuman inside the said mosque.
The VHP meanwhile has claimed that a dargah in Basavakalyan in Karnataka’s Bidar district was a Basavanna temple. The members of the VHP have sought government intervention in the matter claiming that there is clear evidence that the dargah was historically a temple.
In the first part of our report, the lies of the left-leaning propaganda portal The Wire about the “scared Muslims” of Jahangirpuri were exposed. The illegal encroachments, piles of junk, and shops without any registration, mostly owned by the Muslims are back on the streets. While The Wire tried to hold Delhi Police responsible for the ‘invisible fear’ in the Muslim population of Jahangirpuri, the reality is completely different. We talked to the Hindu victims of Jahangirpuri to know the current situation.
On June 3, the OpIndia team met the families who had experienced the violence firsthand on Hanuman Jayanti. Many of them are still struggling with recovery, and they still remember the horrors of the attack. The fear that ‘it might happen again’ was clearly visible on their faces. The locals are unclear why the mob vandalized their houses and vehicles on that day.
‘Hindus will always be grateful to the Police’
Speaking to OpIndia, President of C Block RWA Indramani Tiwari said, “Police is catching the criminals and stone pelters. The Hindu population in the area was troubled and harassed by them. Those who have been caught by the Police were running illegal businesses in the streets of G Block. Had the Police not been active on the day of the incident, you would have seen dead bodies lying around here. Though ASI Mendlal had injured himself, he helped Hindus escape the spot. Hundreds of lives would have been in danger in his absence. We demand a promotion for him. The Hindus will always be grateful to the Police here.”
Tabrez misled both Police and the Public
Tiwari further added, “We had no idea that Tabrez (the main accused in the violence) would be a rioter, it is no surprise that the police were caught unaware too. The criminals and rioters are in jail right now, so there is peace in the area. They will indulge in their old habits as soon as they come out. Those who have committed crimes are getting the taste of batons. The crimes in the violence were done by one side. Hindus were targeted under a conspiracy. All the videos where they held pistols and bottles have gone viral. Hindus have been taking out this rally for thirty years. We never committed any violence.”
C Block RWA president Indramani Tripathi while speaking to OpIndia
‘Hindus who accused Police of atrocities are neighbours of rioters’
According to Indramani, “The woman whose statement became the base of the story that Hindus were scared of the Police is actually a neighbour of the rioters. She has given statements supporting the rioters earlier too. Notably, the cases of theft and snatching started as soon as Police left. Police were to stay for another two months. There is fear as Police presence was withdrawn.”
‘They have not migrated anywhere, but have warned us that once the police deployment is withdrawn, they will ‘see us’
Indramani Tiwari continued and said, “There were reports that Muslims have started migrating from here, but those are false. They did not flee but took possession of the road. I feel their number has grown. Only the garbage has been removed in the name of the anti-encroachment drive. The slums where crimes take place are still standing. Muslims did not run away, but they are threatening us that once Police go away, they would ‘see us. An FIR against the relatives of rioters has been filed in this matter. We are demanding from the government that the park that was meant for the kids and the road for us to walk should be cleared.”
‘Women stopped wearing gold chains out of fear’
Tiwari added, “There is fear among us. Our women have stopped wearing jewellery while leaving the house. The mobile phones are being snatched from their hands. Only Hindus living here are afraid of the rioters and criminals.”
Our team noticed a car parked at a short distance that was vandalized in the violence. It was still in the same condition.
Damaged car
‘Victims reside in G Block and not C Block’
Speaking to OpIndia, Rakesh Sahu, a local resident, said, “The violence-affected area is not C Block but G Block of Jahangirpuri. The mob came from C Block and ransacked the houses and shops that belonged to Hindus in G Block. No one came here to see the suffering of the Hindus. There is no sign of exodus in C Block. It is only 50 meters away from here.”
‘The allegations against the Police are false’
Rakesh added, “The Police controlled the violence in time that day. They are being falsely accused. There is no fear of the Police, but we are afraid of the rioters who were involved in the violence on the day when Hanuman Jayanti Shobha Yatra was attacked. As long as Police were deployed here, everything was under control. However, since the Police were withdrawn, the streets have been occupied, and old antics have been started.”
A local resident Rakesh Sahu while speaking to Opindia
‘Hindus are not rioters but victims’
Speaking on the allegations of one-sided action by the Police that were published in The Wire, Sahu said, “Hindus were not the rioter but victims. They were beaten up and dispersed from their religious procession. They were not armed. However, those who attacked the procession had weapons.”
‘Mosque has also been built by encroaching govt land’
Speaking about the anti-encroachment drive, Rakesh said, “No encroachment has been removed. Several houses and even a mosque were built on the green belt land and government parks. The park existed till B Block, but in the C Block, houses were built on that land. There was an unnecessary hue and cry over demolishing the mosque as it was built on encroached land. Many Muslims built illegal houses with the help of that mosque. They blocked the anti-encroachment drive before the authorities could clear the land.”
‘They are targeting Police as they want to do illegal businesses’
Sahu added, “Because of the Police deployment and continuous moment, the incidents of encroachment and burglary had stopped. That is why they are targeting the Police. This was the reason they joined Tiranga Yatra. A Pandit Ji was included to give it a genuine look. However, no peace and brotherhood were established because of that procession. It was just an attempt by Tabrez to cover up his own wrongdoings.”
The place where we talked to Rakesh was close to Gautam Studio. His shop was closed, but his bike, which was damaged in the violence, was standing there in the same condition.
Damaged Bike
‘Only rioters and criminals are blaming the Police’
Speaking to OpIndia, Chokhelal, a resident of G Block, also echoed in favour of the Police. He said, “Police did a great job. No one is leaving the area. Only rioters who were involved in illegal business. Those who are involved in crimes and riots are accusing the Police as they are getting caught. Hindus do not fear the Police. We are scared of what would happen if the Police leave. Yesterday, the Police presence was withdrawn, and there was an incident of theft at a Hindu family that works as a street vendor. Thieves took their cylinder as well. The roads were occupied as soon as Police left the area.”
A local resident Chokhelal while speaking to Opindia
‘A lot has changed since 1976’
Chokhelal said, “I have been living in Jagangirpuri since 1976. There were not many houses at that time. After the Indo-Pak war of 1971, Bangladeshis came and settled here. Now even parks and streets have been occupied by them. There was a green belt at the side of the mosque, but it has been occupied, and 25-yard houses have been turned into 50-yard houses.
‘We would not have survived in the absence of Police’
Another local resident Mukesh talked to OpIndia about how Police presence ensured their safety. He said, “The reports of people migrating from Jahangirpuri are rubbish. The allegations against Police are also fake. They saved us. We would not have survived in their absence. The Police here is very nice. Criminals and thieves are accusing them.”
A local resident Mukesh while speaking to Opindia
‘The violence was one-sided then how action can be two-sided’
Another Local Akash, who was also one of the eyewitnesses to the violence that took place on Hanuman Jayanti, told OpIndia, “Those who are shouting that the action is being taken on one side, they forget that the crimes took place only on one side. I was stopped by Ansar, who was accused of violence, who told me that I could not go through C block road. They attacked with full preparation. They raised slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. Hindus are reopening the shops. We are not afraid of Police. Their presence provides us with a sense of security. Most of the crimes committed here are by Bengali Muslims. The Police handled the situation very well. The allegations of atrocities against them are fake.”
A local resident Akash while speaking to OpIndia
‘Liquor was sold at the juice shop.’
Akash said that the Juice shop that was publicized during the anti-encroachment drive was infamous for selling liquor secretly. When the shop was demolished, alcohol bottles were found. There was a beer shop nearby, but as the taste of the juice was different, he used to sell alcohol mixed with juice. There is only one park left next to a mosque in C Block. Muslims started offering Namaz after covering the area with a shed. Now they have installed lights etc., in the park. The government park is under their possession. The encroachment was removed on the day of the anti-encroachment drive, now the encroachments are back, the illegal shops and establishments are all back. Roads are clogged and junk dealers are everywhere.
‘They would have killed me if I had not locked myself’
There is a security guard posted at State Bank ATM on Dhobi Ghar Road. He said, “I had locked myself in the ATM. The rioters were beating the gate from outside and shouting abuses at me. They wanted to kill me. They were armed. They broke my bike that was parked outside. I called the Police from inside. I had to spend Rs 4,000 to repair the bike. Even now, when I cross the road that has a mosque, I feel scared.”
Security Guard of ATM explaining the incident to OpIndia
‘Paramilitary handled the situation
A shopkeeper famous by the name Gupta Ji on Dhobighat road said, “The Police were not able to control the rioters alone. The Paramilitary came and brought the situation under control. All the houses built on Masjid Wali Road have been constructed by occupying roads and government land. The reports that the Police are harassing Hindus are false. Those who are indulged in chain snatching and other crimes are blaming the Police.
‘Police is our saviour’
Another local said, “My bike was broken by the rioters. The mob had come inside the locality. My scooty was also ransacked. Police presence gives us a sense of security. We do not have any problem with Police presence.”
A local resident while speaking to Opindia
‘Police absence is worrying us’
Shivam was standing at the intersection that joins G and C Block. He told us, “The allegations against the Police are absolutely wrong. Now Police are being removed. Their departure is worrying us. There were Police on that day, and we were saved by them. Otherwise, I do not know what would have happened. They are far from being afraid. Even if someone scolds one of their children, they call a mob within minutes. At present, they are silent. But for how long they are going to remain silent? They do not want peace. They are afraid of no one? We are scared of them.”
A local resident Shivam while talking to OpIndia
“When the clash took place, Hindus locked themselves in their homes instead of fighting back. Even small children had come to attack us. There has been strictness since the incident happened because of that the illegal businesses have stopped,” he added.
New York based artist, Chi Nguyễn, has got the Twitterverse working hard to find out how to remove two ceramic bowl stuck together. It so happened that about four days back, Chi got a smaller ceramic bowl stuck in a larger ceramic bowl and then it refused to come out.
Twitter, I need your help. I stacked a ceramic bowl into another one while doing dishes and now they are stuck. How do you remove the smaller bowl without breaking both of them?
Why am I so invested? I’ve tried to fix this for 2 days, and I cannot give up now. pic.twitter.com/ONfuw7L9dH
On 6th June, she tweeted that she stacked the two while doing dishes and since has not been able to remove the smaller bowl. She said that it had already been two days since this happened and now she’s very much invested in making sure the bowl comes out without either of them breaking. She sought help from netizens on tip and tricks on how to save her ceramic bowls.
Things I’ve tried so far and no dice: -warm soapy water -hot water on outer bowl, cold water + ice on inner bowl -oil on edges -microwave -aggressive shaking -WD-40
Will try next: -hair dryer -freezer then running hot water
She listed out things she has already tried, like using warm soapy water, hot+cold water, ice, oil on edges, microwaving, shaking the bowls aggressively – but nothing had helped her till then.
Helpful netizens came up with various ideas and then she updated that she had put the bowls in freezer and will not be running hot water on them (since some suggested pouring hot water may crack them).
Still very stuck: – Cards, toothpicks, and straws not getting through to break the seal – Water submergence
Next day, she updated everyone on what other tricks she has tried to get the bowls freed – from toothpicks to cards to even speaking to the bowls passive aggressively to get them to behave themselves, but none of them worked.
In the last 10 hours: – upside down, soap around the edges, overnight submergence – made self-deprecating joke about the sunk cost fallacy (not one chuckle) – thread, paper, knife around the edges
Few hours later, she updated how the bowls are still stuck despite keeping them submerged overnight, making self deprecating jokes to the bowls and even thread, paper, knife around the edges of the bowls.
Update: – electric toothbrush – mini plunger (no go, circumference is bigger than smaller bowl) – compassionately, but firmly threw bowls onto pillow – no easy way to say this: smaller bowl has a chip now
Netizens have come together to help out Chi get the bowls unstuck. The suggestions have ranged from scientific to philosophical.
Try equalising the pressure by submerging the two bowls under a big bath of water or go deep. When the pressure is equalised to the suction between the airgap of the two bowls, it should separate easily.
Many, like us, were there to see the updates on the thread. We all have been really invested by now.
At the time of this report, however, the ceramic bowls are still stuck.
Update: The bowls have come off.
OMG WE DID IT!
Last 20 hours: – upside down, on a towel, undisturbed – gave to toddler (clear mandate that bowls must stay together) – suction cup – small bowl asks to not give up on it now – banged on carpet
On June 5, a video was shared on the social media platform Twitter by Voice of Bangladeshi Hindus in which a young Muslim boy explained the teachings of Madarsas in Bangladesh. In the video, when the person who was recording asked about Hindus, the boy said ‘Hindus are dirty’, and when asked the reason, he said ‘because they worship idols’.
— Voice Of Bangladeshi Hindus ?? (@VoiceOfHindu71) June 5, 2022
The one-minute-long video was in Bangla. The boy, who identified himself as Arif, studies in a Madarsa in Bangladesh. He was asked if the Hindus are dirty or good, he replied, ‘Dirty!’ and gave the reason as ‘they worship idols’. He was then asked what the problem with idol worshipping was, and he said, ‘it is haram’. According to him, those who indulge in activities that are ‘haram’ are ‘dirty’, and he learnt it in Madarsa.
Madarsa teaches about Jihad
Further, the person recording the video asked Arif what else he had learnt in Madarsa. He said, ‘about jihad’. When asked the definition of Jihad, he said, “War against non-Muslims”. He was asked if the Madarsa Huzur (master) taught him all about Jihad, and he replied ‘Yes’. He said Jihad would happen when Imam Mahdi came.
Who is The Mahdi?
According to Britannica, the Mahdi or Imam Mahdi (it means ‘guided one’ in Arabic) is a messianic deliverer who will bring justice and equality to the earth. There is no mention of Mahdi in the Quran or two most important Hadiths that are al-Bukhārī and Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj, however, Mahdi was mentioned in some canonical compilations of Hadiths.
Brainwashing children to wage war against Hindus
In recent times, several videos have surfaced on social media where Muslim children were seen spewing venom against Hindus. The consistent brainwashing of the children is leading to unprecedented hate against the Hindu community not only in India but also in other parts of the world.
The most recent example was of a Muslim boy from Kerala raising anti-Hindu slogans in a PFI (Popular Front of India) march. In the video, the PFI members and the child could be heard warning Hindus and Christians prepare for their last rites.
In April 2022, an Instagram Live snippet went viral on social media in which an Influencer Sabnam and her friend Nadeem spewed venom against Hindus. At one point, Nadeem had said if he had an AK-47, he would have killed Hindus himself.
In February 2021, a 2-minute video apparently from Pakistan went viral on social media where children were shown playing with wooden swords. When the person who was recording the video asked them what would they do with the swords, they replied, “Behead kafirs”. He further asked what would they get if they beheaded kafirs, and they replied, “Jannat (heaven)”.
In May 2020, many netizens shared videos from a TikTok (banned Chinese short video app) trend where Muslim boys act on lyrics of a song praising Haider, a Muslim warrior, for killing thousands of Hindus referred to as ‘Kafir’. The lyrics say, “Ilaka Hil Raha Tha Vehdat Ke Naaron Se, Zara Si Der Mein Maidan Bhara Tha Kafir Ki Lashon Se, Jab Chali Haider Ki Talwar”. It means, the ground was shaking with the chants of ‘the one God’. When the sword of Haidar showed its might, the whole ground got filled with dead bodies of Kaafirs in minutes.
Varanasi Court Civil Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, who ordered the sealing of the spot where the Shivling was found inside the disputed structure received threats via registered post.
Judge who ordered survey of Gyanvapi receives letter from Islamic Aagaaz Movement calling him an "Kafir Idolator" who should worry about his "mother and wife". Everyone knows which book preaches hatred against "Kafir Idolaters". pic.twitter.com/U6YvAMwv5U
The letter was sent by Islamic Aaghaz Movement and accused the judge of also going ‘saffron’ in the times of ‘hateful politics’ in India. Calling him ‘kafir’ and ‘idol worshiper’, the Islamist group claimed that no Muslim can expect fairness from a ‘saffronised’ judge. The letter further accused him of siding with ‘extremist Hindus’ and under pressure from Gujarati Prime Minister will declare Mughals as looters.
This threat letter has further been sent to higher ups in the Uttar Pradesh Police. Subsequently, 9 police officers have been deployed for his safety and security.
Shivling found in wuzukhana of disputed structure at Gyanvapi
Last month, a Shivling was found submerged in the wuzukhana, the place where people who offer namaz, the Islamic prayer, clean their dirty hands and feet and gargle water as a cleansing ritual, inside the complex where the disputed structure called ‘Gyanvapi mosque’ is. The mosque was constructed after destroying the Hindu temple of Kashi Vishwanath. The centuries old Nandi inside the new complex right next to the disputed structure also points towards the place where the Shivling was found in the wuzukhana.
Upon discovery of the Shivling, the judge had ordered sealing of the complex and forbidden those offering prayer in the masjid from cleaning their dirty feet and hands where the Shivling has been found. However, after the Shivling was found, Islamists and many ‘liberals’ mocked the idol as a ‘fountain’ and other innuendos which have hurt the religious feelings of Hindus.
Dreaded terrorist group Al Qaeda has issued a letter threatening suicide attacks in Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat to “fight for the honor of the Prophet”. Al Qaeda has made this threat in response to the alleged ‘blasphemous’ comments made by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in a TV debate.
In the letter dated the 6th of June, the terrorist group said, “We shall kill those who affront our Prophet and we shall bind explosives with our bodies and the bodies of our children to blow away the ranks of those who dare to dishonor our Prophet.” The letter also goes on to say that Hindutva terrorists are currently occupying India.
The letter further states, “We say with the help of Allah the almighty, the saffron terrorists should now await their end in Delhi, Bombay, UP, and Gujarat. They shall find refuge neither in their homes nor in their fortified army cantonments. May our mothers be bereaved of us, if we do not avenge our beloved Prophet.”
The controversy around the remarks on Prophet Muhammad
Last month, during a debate on the issue of Shivling inside the disputed Gyanvapi structure in Kashi, Nupur Sharma asked how will people from other religions react if offensive remarks are made about them. The clip was shared on Twitter by Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, and since then, Nupur has been subjected to a torrent of abuse and threats.
Multiple FIRs have also been registered against Sharma after the remarks and open calls for her death have also been made. Some Islamist outfits have even placed a bounty on her head after the remarks.
Following the outrage, BJP distanced itself from her comments and suspended her from the party. In its suspension letter, the BJP told Sharma that she had expressed views contrary to the party’s on various matters which violate the party’s constitution. “The party respects all religions and is against any ideology that insults or demeans any sect or religion”, it stated.
In a significant development in the Hyderabad gang rape case, the AIMIM MLA’s son, a minor and one of the five accused, has been booked and arrested. This is the 5th arrest made in the case. He was reportedly on the run following the incident.
BREAKING: AIMIM MLA's son (minor) booked, apprehended in Hyderabad gang-rape & molestation case.
On 28th May 2022, a 17-year-old minor girl had gone to attend a party at the Amnesia and Insomnia Pub in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. The party was hosted by two of her friends. Some other boys also had met her in the same pub, from where she was taken in a Mercedes car and allegedly gang-raped by the accused. The Mercedes car in which the crime took place belongs to a TRS leader.
Earlier on Sunday, the police arrested the fourth accused in the Hyderabad gang rape case, who is also a minor. On Saturday, the police arrested two minors including the son of a senior Waqf board official in connection with the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Jubilee Hills. A day before, police had made their first arrest in the case, detaining one Saduddin Malik.
Besides, a report published in India Today said that the politically influential families of the five accused involved in the rape of a 17-year-old girl that happened on the night of May 28th in the city’s Jubliee Hill area are using their political clout and influence to pressurise the victim’s family to drop charges against the accused.
Accused of the Hyderabad gang rape had misbehaved with another girl in the pub the same day
In another important development in the Hyderabad gang rape, reports have emerged suggesting that the accused had misbehaved with another minor girl in the same pub on the same day, where the gang-rape victim had gone to attend a party on May 28.
As per a report by Telangana Today, on Monday, Hyderabad police checked the footage from the pub’s CCTV cameras again as part of their investigation and discovered that the accused had misbehaved with another girl as well. The police are attempting to locate and speak with the girl, who appeared to be a minor.
The Hyderabad gang rape case
In his complaint to the jubilee hills police station on June 1, the girl’s father said that some boys in a Mercedes car brought his daughter out of the pub and took her in the car, and then gang-raped her.
According to the father’s complaint, his daughter had gone to a party in the pub on the afternoon of May 28. At around 5.30 pm, some boys took her away in a red Mercedes numbered TS09 FL6460. Along with this, some boys came there in an Innova with a temporary registration number.
The father has also stated in his complaint that these boys also abused and assaulted his daughter, due to which she suffered minor injuries on her neck. At that time, the girl was in deep shock and was unable to tell the exact details of what happened.
Based on the complaint of the minor girl’s father, a case has been registered against the accused under Sections 354, Section 376, and Section 323 of the IPC and Sections 9 and 10 of the POCSO Act.
Days after violence broke out in Kanpur following the Friday Namaz, Kanpur Police has arrested a BJP youth wing leader for his “offensive” comments on Prophet Muhammad. Harshit Srivastava, a youth wing functionary, was arrested by the police over allegedly inflammatory tweets.
Sharing the information, Kanpur Police Commissioner Vijay Meena said, “We will act against anyone who tries to play with religious sentiments.”
Uttar Pradesh | Kanpur Police arrest BJP youth wing leader Harshit Srivastava over his controversial tweet in view of clashes in the district that broke out recently. Case registered. pic.twitter.com/0D3tEq32L9
Violence had broken out in Kanpur last Friday after the afternoon Namaz when Islamists were forcibly trying to impose a bandh called against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Several people were injured in stone-pelting and violent clashes in the Beaconganj area of Kanpur. A total of three FIRs have been registered in the case.
Hayat Zafar Hashmi, the mastermind behind the violence, was arrested on June 4, a day after the riots. He is also among the 40 accused named in the FIR in the case. Hashmi, identified as the main conspirator behind the clashes in Kanpur, is the former Secretary of Youth Congress.
Kanpur police revealed that a total of 141 WhatsApp groups were found on Hashmi’s mobile, and most of them had conversations regarding the Kanpur clashes. Several other names have also come up after going through the chats who were also active in those groups.
Based on the examination of the CCTV footage, the Kanpur police on Monday released a poster of 40 suspects involved in the clash that took place on June 3. The suspects in the poster are those who were caught on camera pelting stones and participating in the violence that erupted in Kanpur on Friday. The police have appealed to the public to help in the search for these people.
Actor Kangana Ranaut has come out in support of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, stating that she is ‘entitled to her opinions’ over angry reactions from the Arab countries after the politician cited texts from Islamic Hadiths to comment on Prophet Muhammad.
Taking to her Instagram story, the actor condemned death threats to the former BJP spokesperson, who had been at the receiving end of Islamist ire following her comments on Prophet Muhammad. Ranaut urged people to take legal recourse if they wanted to oppose the remarks made by her during a TV debate about 10 days ago.
“Nupur is entitled to her opinions, I see all kinds of threats targeted at her when Hindu Gods are insulted which they are almost every day, we go to court, plz do that no need to play dons yourself, this is not Afghanistan, we have a proper functioning government which is chosen with a process called democracy… just a reminder for those who keep forgetting,” the actor wrote.
Source: Instagram/kanganaranaut
Ranaut’s stand in support of Nupur Sharma comes hours after Delhi Police provided security to the former BJP leader and her family after she alleged that she has been receiving threats and was being harassed over her remarks.
Nupur Sharma receives death threats over remarks on Prophet Muhammad as Islamic nations condemn her statements
Sharma has hogged the limelight for quoting authentic Islamic hadiths on Prophet Muhammad that had the Islamists around the country and the globe baying for her blood. The controversy erupted after AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair dog whistled about the remarks she made on Prophet Muhammad in a debate on Times Now, following which a bevvy of Islamists descended on her timeline, abusive her and issuing vile threats against her and her family. Usually quick to pursue meaningless fact-checks, AltNews and Zubair have since then refrained from fact-checking statements made by her in the debate.
The controversy escalated after many Islamic monarchies in the Arab world, where the rights of religious minorities are virtually non-existent, proceeded to condemn the statements made by Nupur Sharma and sanctimoniously sought an explanation from India. Facing an unprecedented diplomatic storm, the BJP suspended Nupur Sharma from the party. In the suspension letter, the party’s central disciplinary committee wrote, “You have expressed views contrary to the party’s position on various matters… Pending further inquiry, you are suspended from the party and from your responsibilities with immediate effect.”
In Thiruvananthapuram, on Monday, a rally held by radical Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) turned violent. At around 12 noon, members of the outfit took out a march toward Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s official residence ‘Cliff House’ against the arrest of Popular Front leaders following the hate slogans given by a child in a recent rally in Alappuzha.
PFI members smashed barricades and hurled bottles at police during an agitation against the LDF government in Kerala in response to the actions taken against PFI leaders after the Alappuzha hate speech controversy. Led by the state leadership of the Popular Front, the march was announced on the grounds that the leaders were being imprisoned on false charges.
The march quickly erupted into clashes at the Devaswom Board Junction. The PFI members tried to jump over the police barricades. The attempts to challenge the law and order situation were curtailed when the police used water cannons at the protestors. To bring the situation under control, the police used tear gas shells and grenades to disperse the crowd.
The situation near the CM’s residence resulted in a traffic jam that continued until 2 PM when the agitators left the scene. Six people were taken to the hospital following the incident. A video from the PFI rally held on May 21 had gone viral on social media in which a child was giving death threats to Hindus and Christians. Following the matter, The Kerala High Court had directed the Police to take strict action in the matter. The Kerala Police have arrested 20 people so far, including the father of the boy who gave the threatful slogans.
At a PFI rally in Alappuzha, Muslim boy chants for death to Hindus
In the incendiary videos that had gone viral on social media, a boy was seen shouting, “Be ready for your death rituals if you won’t live in our land quietly. Be ready with rice flakes to fill your mouth, if you won’t live quietly (For Hindus). Be ready to burn amber in your home if you won’t live quietly (For Christians).” This came as a direct threat to the Hindu and Christian population living in Kerala, with PFI warning the death penalty if they don’t fall in line.
Further, the boy said, “We are coming, we are your death. We won’t go to Pakistan or Bangladesh, you have to live here as we say, or else we know how to make you live quietly, we will kill you even if we are attacked. We take pride in being a martyr, we salute them. If you won’t live quietly, we know how to ask for ‘Azadi’. Be prepared for your death,” the PFI members shouted after the boy in Malayalam.
