Protest against communal slur: Indore police book over 100 people

The Indore police have registered cases against more than hundred people who allegedly pelted stones on shops during their protest against a Hindu leader’s remark about Prophet Mohammad on Tuesday afternoon.

The Indore police have registered cases against more than hundred people who allegedly pelted stones on shops during their protest against a Hindu leader’s remark about Prophet Mohammad on Tuesday afternoon.

The protest by Muslims against alleged derogatory comments by a Hindu leader from Uttar Pradesh about Prophet Mohammed caused a traffic jam at Regal crossing in Indore on Tuesday. (Shankar Mourya/HT file photo)

Sources said some people were named in the first information report lodged on Tuesday night, while police were searching others through CCTV footages.

The incident occurred at Eidgah and Regal square when more than 10,000 Muslims gathered to demand action against Kamlesh Tiwari, a Hindu Mahasabha leader from Uttar Pradesh who had made derogatory comments about Prophet Mohammad.

The rally started from Eidgah area around 10am and reached Regal Square at 1pm where a section of crowd started pelting stones on shops and also broke window panes of about six vehicles.

A senior police official told Hindustan Times that all those who were involved in the Tuesday’s incident would be identified.

“A list of the leaders of these protestors is also prepared by the local intelligence and police are keeping an eye on them,” said a senior police officer.

Tiwari’s remarks had purportedly come in retaliation to Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Azam Khan’s statement that RSS members are homosexual. Tiwari was arrested by Lucknow police on December 3.

The next day, Hindu Mahasabha refused to accept Tiwari as its member, saying that he misused the name of the organisation.