Violence in Hubballi after SSF stages rally against anti-Prophet remark

Hubballi/Tumkur, Dec 15: Thousands of Muslims took out protest marches in Hubballi and Tumkur on Monday to flay the alleged defamatory statement against Prophet Mohammad made by Kamlesh Tiwari, a self-professed working president of Hindu Mahasabha of Uttar Pradesh.

However, a tense atmosphere prevailed in Hubballi when a few miscreants indulged in stone-throwing, causing damage to several vehicles, including NWKRTC buses and police vehicles after the rally.

The protest at Heggeri grounds was organised by Sunni Students’ Federation and other likeminded Muslim groups. Hundreds of protesters burnt the effigy of Tiwari at the Indi Pump Circle and demanded death for him. They then moved towards New English School Circle.

Some miscreants, however, took to violence en route, throwing stones at five NWKRTC buses, four cars and a police jeep. They also stoned two ATM kiosks and three shops. A policeman and a shopkeeper were injured, too.

To contain the situation, police caned four groups of people near English Medium School, Mastan Sofa, Diwan Chacha Dargah and Byali Oni. They detained 17 people and registered cases against them at Old Hubballi and Kasabapet police stations.

Police Commissioner Pandurang Rane, DCP Jinendra Khanagavi, ACP?Somalingappa Chabbi and other police officers led the efforts to disperse the crowd. Rane insisted that caning was necessary to contain the situation and that sufficient police personnel were deployed to avert more untoward incidents. “More miscreants will be taken into custody, and those who made provocative speech at the protest will be booked, too,” he said.

Rane said the local unit of the SSF had sought permission to hold a protest meeting opposing Kamalesh Tiwari’s statements against Prophet Mohammad. They had also sought permission to take out a procession, which was rejected. The protest meeting was peaceful. But some among the protesters turned unruly while returning from the meeting. The police resorted to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.

Pro-Hindu organisations later staged a protest, too, alleging that the banner of a temple was damaged by the miscreants.