In Junagadh mob violence, minor among 35 held; ‘flogging’ video to be probed: Police
Violence broke out after demolition show cause notices were issued by the Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JuMc) to the Hazrat Gebanshah Pir Dargah near Majevadi Gate on Friday.
The violence that broke out on Friday was met with police retaliation. (Express Photo) Thirty-five persons, including a minor, have been held over the violence unleashed by a mob on Friday, which killed one and injured four police personnel among others, Junagadh police said on Monday.
Violence broke out after demolition show cause notices were issued by the Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JuMc) to the Hazrat Gebanshah Pir Dargah near Majevadi Gate on Friday. As a mob of hundreds pelted stones, police retaliation followed to disperse the crowd.
A 62-year-old man died and four police personnel, including Junagadh DySP Hitesh Dhandhaliya, were injured in the ensuing chaos. A police chowki, a few police vehicles, and a state transport bus were vandalised.
More arrests are expected as probe deepens, Superintendent of Police Junagadh Ravi Teja Vasamsetty told The Indian Express on Monday. Vasamsetty added that few people were arrested based on the names taken by other accused. A 16-year-old is among those held, he said.
On the widely shared videos that purportedly show at least seven men seen being publicly flogged, Vasamsetty said the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Mangrol DV Kodiyatar has been given charge in the matter. In the clip, at least seven men, who were allegedly involved in the stone pelting incident, can be seen being flogged allegedly by two police personnel in plain clothes. “DySP Mangrol is in charge of the inquiry in this matter. Tomorrow (on Tuesday), we are busy with the Rath Yatra, so it (inquiry) will start in three or four days,” said Vasamsetty.
Adding the remand process was underway for those arrested, he added the police were going to seek a week’s remand for those arrested.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat High Court is due to hear three petitions moved by the Samasth Sunni Muslim Trust, challenging the notices issued by JuMC to the Hazrat Gebanshah Pir Dargah (Danapith), Hazrat Jamiyalsadatar Dargah, Hazrat Roshansha Pir Bawa Dargah, Hazrat Khinjisha Pir and Hazrat Gebansha Pir Dargah (Majewadi gate). The petitions submit the properties in question which have been served with notices by JuMC are Waqf properties. The petitions are seeking the JuMC notices to be quashed and pending a final decision on the petitions, the status quo should be maintained by staying the operation of the JuMC notices.
In the mob violence case, an FIR was lodged at the A-division police station on Sarturday with 31 named as accused and charged under IPC sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to commit murder), 326, 324 (voluntarily causing hurt and grievous hurt with dangerous weapons or means), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 143 (unlawful assembly), 144 (joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapons), 146, 147, 148 (rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 151 (Knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to public servant in the discharge of his duty with intent to prevent or deter public servant from discharging his duty), 353 (assault upon a public servant by causing hurt or grievous hurt in order to deter or obstruct him in the discharge of duties ), 427 (commits mischief), 437 (Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden), 440 (Mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt), 34 (criminal acts done with common intention), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
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