On Wednesday a violent dispute occurred in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh. A mob of extremists took to the streets under the pretext of avenging alleged blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad.
The situation got worse when the mob, resorted to stone-pelting, leaving many police officers injured. The unrest started when a large group of individuals, led by Haji Shahzad Ali, the district vice-president of Congress assembled at the City Kotwali police station to protest remarks made by Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj of Sarla Island.
Three police officers including Kotwali station in-charge Arvind Kujur, sustained injuries in the attack. Police vehicles were also destroyed which forced law enforcement to deploy tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
The state administration took action against those involved. A significant target was Haji Shahzad Ali, who was identified as the leader of the mob.
Authorities deployed bulldozers to demolish Ali’s bungalow, a property valued at over 50 million rupees. The police have since filed charges against Haji Shahzad Ali, 50 other named individuals and 200 unidentified persons in connection with the incident. The administration’s bulldozer action has sent a strong message about the state’s zero-tolerance policy towards such acts of violence.
In Chhatarpur the tensions were fueled by remarks made by Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj during a religious discourse in Nashik. The Mahant referenced the Prophet Muhammad, which was perceived by Muslim extremists as an act of blasphemy.
Comments