Attack on Muslims on Sunday night was planned, says panel

“The visual evidence clearly shows that a mob emerged from these localities and stopped cars and motorcycles and assaulted people,” the letter stated while demanding action against all those found to be involved in the incidents.

“These incidents have occurred in the same majority-dominated areas where such attacks have taken place earlier too. These attacks have been carried out to disturb the law and order situation in the state and also instil fear in the minds of the minorities,” Hakim said.

Byculla MLA Waris Pathan too claimed that members of the minority community were deliberately targeted. “Some people complained to me they were stopped because of their appearance and assaulted,” Pathan said.

However, Shiv Sena MLA Ajay Chaudhary, who was at the spot on Sunday night, refuted the charge. He claimed the clash was not because of an accident, as some people claimed, but because of behaviour of the bikers who were returning from the procession. “People returning from the procession abused people on the road. Firecrackers were thrown by these people towards those bystanders. They even surrounded a traffic warden at Bharatmata signal and were about to assault him. It was only then that the public got involved and assaulted some of them,” Chaudhary said.

He claimed the clashes continued for long because a mob from Byculla reportedly stood on Lalbaug flyover and threw stones and firecrackers on those below.

Eid-e-Milad marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed and is largely celebrated by Sunni Barelvi Muslims. “Organisers of the procession had requested people to be be at their best behaviour. But when you are in a holiday mood, your behaviour also seems to take a holiday. This is a universal principle, which is also evident during Holi and Ganpati festivals. The incident was one-off. It has never occurred in the past and I hope will not occur in the future as well,” said Sarfaraz Azu, vice-chairman of the All India Khilafat Committee, which organises the procession.

Arzu claimed the incident seemed a manifestation of the growing demonisation of the minority community in the country. “It was an isolated event which was immediately contained. However, it also reflects the growing demonisation of the Muslim community where everything associated with them is seen in a negative way,” he said.