Muslim community observes Bandh in Bhatkal over remarks against Prophet Mohammed
Bhatkal: Following the massive protest organised by Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem on Monday, the Muslim community in Bhatkal observed a complete bandh on Tuesday, expressing their resentment over the blasphemous remarks made by Yati Narsinghanand against Prophet Mohammed.
In response to the call for the bandh, all Muslim-owned shops and businesses in the city remained closed from Tuesday morning and is expected to remain closed till Wednesday morning. The shutdown was a unified show of protest, as the community voiced their demand for immediate action against Narsinghanand.
While the markets in Muslim-dominated areas and main market remained quiet, shops and businesses owned by non-Muslims were seen operating normally. The bandh call, made by the Tanzeem during Monday's protest, aimed to intensify pressure on authorities to act against Narsinghanand, who has a history of making offensive remarks and has been accused of spreading communal hatred.
On Monday, Maulana Abdul Aleem, along with other leaders, had strongly condemned the statements made by Narsinghanand, calling him an "anti-social element" who is against the pluralistic and democratic values of India. He emphasized that Prophet Mohammed was a symbol of peace and harmony and that insulting him disrupts societal peace. Other leaders, like Mohammed Kunhi of Shanti Prakashan and Tanzeem President Inayathullah Shabandri, also demanded strict legal action, warning that the protests would escalate if the government failed to take appropriate steps.
The bandh was observed peacefully across the city, with no reports of incidents or confrontations. The memorandum submitted on Monday, demanding Narsinghanand be charged under stringent laws such as the UAPA, continues to be the focal point of the community’s demands.
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2 detained after comment over wedding procession to Dalit house sparks clash in UP's Shahjahanpur
Shahjahanpur (UP) (PTI): Two persons have been detained after a clash broke out allegedly over remarks targeting a Dalit family's wedding procession in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, police said on Saturday.
The incident occurred in Lai Kheda village under Tilhar police station area, where a wedding procession from Bareilly had arrived at a Dalit household on April 20.
According to SP Saurabh Dixit, when the procession was near the house of Rajpal Yadav, he allegedly made a remark saying "Now, Dalits will also take out wedding processions riding a buggy", leading to an argument. Yadav's side allegedly turned aggressive, escalating the conflict further.
Police said a scuffle ensued between the two sides. Upon receiving information, police personnel reached the spot and ensured that the procession was conducted peacefully after the incident.
An FIR was registered on Friday against Rajpal Yadav, Sumit, Amit, Surendra, Avdhesh Yadav and five unidentified persons based on a complaint. Rajpal Yadav and his son Sumit have been taken into custody and are being questioned, Dixit said.
The case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, police said.
Dixit said preliminary findings suggest that Yadav, too, was hosting a function and processions from both sides had arrived around the same time. A dispute may have initially arisen due to a narrow passage and attempts to move the processions quickly.
Police have registered the case under relevant sections of the BNS and initiated further probe, officials said.
