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Meraj?s death sparks violence
AFTER MERAJ, who had suffered head injuries in the Ram Narayan Bazar communal violence, breathed his last at the LLR Hospital, thousands of angry people took to the streets in an act that was reminiscent of Tuesday night?s communal flare-up. As soon as the news of the death spread, the situation started to turn volatile. The mob breached the three-tier security cordon and attempted to reach the other end of the road.
AFTER MERAJ, who had suffered head injuries in the Ram Narayan Bazar communal violence, breathed his last at the LLR Hospital, thousands of angry people took to the streets in an act that was reminiscent of Tuesday night’s communal flare-up.
As soon as the news of the death spread, the situation started to turn volatile.
The mob breached the three-tier security cordon and attempted to reach the other end of the road. Slogans with religious overtones rent the air as vandals tried to spread panic. They fired in the air and pelted stones at shops.
A riot-like situation prevailed in the area after two of the accused named in the FIR were spotted. Soon tempers ran high and the crowd demanded immediate arrest of the accused. They threatened to prevent the burial of Meraj if the cops did not act.
However, the locals coordinated with the officials and helped to cool frayed tempers. ADM (City) Abrar Ahmed and CO (Kotwali) Rakesh Jolly spoke to the mob and assured that the accused would be arrested within 24 hours. The administration is also all set to invoke National Security Act (NSA) on the accused.
“Raids are being conducted for the arrest of all the seven accused. They will be arrested at the earliest and all concerns of Meraj’s family will be addressed by the administration,” Ahmed said.
The administration had anticipated violence in the event of Meraj’s death. That tension was building up over Meraj’s condition became even when on Friday morning irate people smashed all the plaques of BJP MLA Salil Vishnoi.
Earlier, doctors declared the grocery shopowner dead at 8.45. As the news reached Ram Narayan Bazar angry people spilled out on the streets and forced the closure of shops.
Tension spiraled once again when the body of Meraj arrived. The locals had a heated exchange with the district officials over which route the hearse should take to Patkapur. Even as the issue was being debated some section of the crowd charged towards the cops. They accused the administration of being soft on the accused. Undeterred with all pleas, the mob refused to let the ritual of last bath given to the body and subsequent burial take place unless their demands were met.
Sensing trouble some Samajwadi Party leaders, including city president Mohd Nasiruddin and general secretary Jitendra Bahadur Singh, disappeared from the scene. However, another SP leader Haji Irfan Solanki remained at the spot. He got a human chain formed to prevent the mob from marching towards the conflict zone. After hectic efforts, the officials were able to convince the people. But they soon hit another roadblock over the route of the funeral procession. The crowd insisted to take the body via Shivala. The administration sealed all points leading to Shivala.
The body finally reached Meraj’s home in Nawab Sahab Ka Hata via Lari Park.
Later, a huge crowd joined Meraj’s last journey. The ‘namaz-e-janaza’ was offered at the Bari Eidgah and the body was laid to rest at the graveyard adjacent to the Eidgah.
Traders pull down shutters
AN EERIE silence prevailed in all the Muslim-dominated areas of the city as the news of Meraj’s death spread. People gave vent to their anger by keeping shops and commercial establishments close.
In Ram Narayan Bazar, Nawab Sahab-ka-Hata, Takia and its adjoining areas traders closed shops. The scene was pretty much the same in Muslim-dominated areas of Chamanganj, Beconganj, Meston Road, Talaq Mahal, Rajbi Road and other areas. People gathered at street corners and discussed the issue. Anger and disgust were writ large on the faces of the traders.
As rumours of Meraj’s death was doing round since September 5, today’s news was received with skepticism in Muslim areas. Well-wishers of Meraj made frantic efforts to contact his family members and friends in Ram Narayan Bazar and Patkapur to confirm the news.
SP city chased away
SP (City) Sabharaj’s unruly behaviour got him into serious trouble at the Ram Narayan Bazar this morning. He faced mob’s fury and was subsequently chased away by the people. He had to seek refuge behind his armed colleagues.
Eyewitnesses said after the news of Meraj’s death came people started assembling on the road. They were shouting slogans. SP (City) displayed rudeness as he tried to disperse them. His behaviour boomeranged and the people gave him a chase. Later he left the area and returned when the body arrived.
Virtual ‘house arrest’
AS THE officers strived to control the situation they almost put residents of adjoining areas under house arrest. Residents in these areas were not allowed to stand in the balconies or peep through the windows. As the body of Meraj reached his house, locals got infuriated and raised slogans against the accused.
To avoid clash between the two communities, security personnel ordered closure of shops. Police even cordoned off the area from Birhana Road crossing to the Shivala crossing.
Politicians play spoilsport
POLITICIANS ONCE again played spoilsport at the Ram Narayan Bazar area today. Political leaders tried to exploit the situation to the hilt.
When Meraj’s body arrived in the area, a local leader incited his 15 supporters to resort to violence. This charged up the otherwise calm atmosphere. However, timely intervention of senior residents of the area and cops prevented the situation from getting out of control. Only after the situation was brought under control, Samajwadi Party leaders Surendra Mohan Agarwal and Jitendra Bahadur Singh met the bereaved family. Congress leader Abdul Mannan also visited the house of Meraj to offer condolence.
