Mumbai violence: Situation under control, probe ordered

From the Hindustan Times

Two people were killed and nearly 65 injured – of them 56 policemen -- in an unprecedented attack on the police force and media by protestors at Azad Maidan on Saturday afternoon. The protestors, drawn largely from the Raza Academy, a Sunni Muslim advocacy group, had gathered to condemn the recent killings of Muslims in Assam and Myanmar, and turned violent during the protest.

The police claimed that protestors numbered around 20,000, while the Raza Azademy said nearly 60,000 had gathered at Azad Maidan. The academy president, Saeed Noori, said that the violence was started by a few people hanging around the protest venue.

Three Muslim organisations had jointly organized the protest on Aug 13, the police said, but one of them went ahead with it on Saturday. By 1pm, the protestors had assembled.

Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik, said: “Around 2.30 pm, midway through the protest, some elements in the crowd pulled out provocative pictures of people being killed at Assam. The pictures acted as a trigger and led to violence. When the policemen posted for bandobast tried to control the crowd, they pelted stones at them and heckled them.”

The violence lasted from 2.30 to 3.15 pm. Policemen and journalists at the venue were beaten by the mob and 10-15 vehicles were set on fire. Mayhem prevailed until police opened fire to bring the situation under control. Services on the Central Railway were cancelled for a brief while.

The dead were identified as Mohammed Umar, 22 and Altaf Shaikh, 18. Apart from the 56 policemen, about a dozen press photographers and television camerapersons were injured. Vehicles, including three police vans and three OB (Outdoor Broadcasting) vans, were set on fire.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said: “It’s surprising how the police which is otherwise reluctant to give permission for protests of teachers and farmers gave a nod to a group which was protesting on a national issue that had no relevance to Mumbai”.