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June 10 violence in Prayagraj erupted after police action, claims PUCL
In its fact finding report, the PUCL claimed of police atrocities against residents of Atala and adjoining localities of Prayagraj and extra judicial action against the alleged mastermind of violence
Police action against some people, who were shouting slogans after Friday prayers against former BJP spokesperson over her remarks on Prophet, was the trigger for the large scale violence and arson in Atala area of Prayagraj on June 10, claimed rights’ body People’s Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL).
In its fact finding report, the PUCL further claimed of police atrocities against residents of Atala and adjoining localities and extra judicial action against Javed Mohammad, the alleged mastermind of violence whose house was demolished by Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) on June 12 for reportedly flouting building norms.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, PUCL members said a team comprising Shrivallabh Mishra, Anand Malviya, Avinash Mishra, Seema Azad, Manish Sinha, Soni Azad and Vishwes Rajratnam visited the violence-hit Atala and adjoining localities and took statements of locals and traders.
They claimed that some youths were raising slogans against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her objectionable statements on the Prophet after Friday prayers on June 10 from behind the barriers installed by the police.
The report further said at around 2 pm cops intercepted a man passing from the spot and bashed him up. The cops then issued threats to traders and started using force on people standing near the mosque at Atala crossing.
“The police action infuriated the people and in retaliation they pelted the cops with stones. Soon, the violence spread to other lanes in the area and groups of enraged persons started assaulting policemen with stones. Cops too retaliated and hurled stones on protestors following which glass windows of many houses and restaurants were damaged,” PUCL member Seema Azad said quoting the report.
Azad further said police launched a brutal crackdown on residents of the area following the violence.
“Many commuters and innocent persons were arrested from the spot while many were arrested without any reason in the coming days. Policemen barged into the houses in the lanes in Atala and dragged out youths for arresting them. Moreover, informers and suspicious elements in the area are involved in extorting money from people while scaring them of police action against them. Such persons have patronage of policemen,” Seema said.
Many have fled homes fearing police crackdown which is also affecting livelihood of local traders in the area, she added.
Another PUCL member Avinash Mishra while demanding a high- level judicial enquiry into the incident said the turn of events indicates towards a conspiracy against members of a particular community.
He said many persons, including Welfare Party leader Javed Mohammad, AIKMS leader Ashish Mittal, corporator Fazal Khan, AIMIM district president Shah Alam, Zeeshan Rehmani and Umar Khalid have been falsely implicated in the violence.
“Javed was arrested despite the fact that he himself was present at peace committee meeting with police officials only a day earlier. Javed’s wife and daughter were illegally detained for 33 hours and his house was illegally demolished,” he said.
