Prayagraj SSP Ajay Kumar said anti-social elements used minors to pelt stones at police and authorities during the violent protests in the city on Friday.
Miscreants throw stones at police during a protest over controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad in Prayagraj, UP on Friday (PTI photo)
Anti-social elements used children to pelt stones at police and authorities during the violent protests over inflammatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Friday, a top cop has said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Kumar told news agency ANI, “Anti-social elements used minor kids to hurl stones at police and administration. Case registered under 29 crucial sections. Action will be taken under Gangster Act and NSA.”
Protests erupted after Friday prayers in Prayagraj, as demonstrators raised slogans demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Delhi unit media in-charge Naveen Jindal for their controversial statements regarding the Prophet and Islam.
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The hundreds-strong demonstration turned violent, with miscreants present in the crowd hurling stones at police personnel. Motorcycles and carts were set on fire and an attempt was made to set ablaze a police vehicle. Police used tear gas and lathis to disperse mobs and peace was later restored.
According to eyewitnesses, stone pelting continued for over 15 minutes in Prayagraj. They said some of the miscreants pelted stones at the police personnel deployed on the main road and the situation escalated when more people joined the stone-pelters.
ADG (Parayagraj Zone) Prem Prakash said a constable of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was injured during the stone pelting.
A person named Mohammad Javed alias Javed Pump has been identified as the main conspirator behind the violence. Police have said that the accused will be booked under the Gangster Act and all illegal property will be razed.
SSP Ajay Kumar confirmed Javed’s involvement in spreading the violence that rocked Prayagraj yesterday, adding that there may be more masterminds. Cases have been filed against 70 known people and 5,000 unnamed people under 29 serious sections in the Khuldabad police station, he said.
As of last night, 37 people have been arrested in connection with the protests in Prayagraj, ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said.