Kanpur police registered an FIR against 7 people for social media posts ‘fanning tensions’ after Sharma’s remark and the clashes. The 7 have been booked under Section 505 (publishing statement with intent to promote enmity on religious grounds), Section 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) of IPC and Section 66 of the IT Act.
On the basis of CCTV footage, police made posters containing sketches of 40 suspects at several public spots in Kanpur and appealed to the public to identify the people. The posters did not mention their names or addresses, as was done when hoardings containing photos of anti-CAA protestors were put up after riots in Lucknow and Kanpur. The Allahabad high court had reprimanded the state government then.
“An alert has been sounded in the entire state. We are in touch with religious dharmagurus for appeal to maintain peace. We are also telling them that the government’s stand (in the Gyanvapi issue) is entirely neutral and it will abide by whatever decision the court makes,” ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar told ET.
Refusal to shut shops in protest against Sharma’s remarks had led to clashes between two communities. The police has arrested 29 people. Hayat Zafar Hashmi has been dubbed the key conspirator even though his kin say he had withdrawn the bandh call and was not behind the incident. Police officials said organisers of the bandh informed them that the scheduled protest on June 3 would not take place but a symbolic protest would be done a day later. This was because the President and the prime minister, along with the CM and governor of UP, were in town. However, the attempt to shut shops led to clashes and stone pelting in which many were injured, including cops.
Meanwhile, BSP chief Mayawati has called for a thorough investigation into the clashes. “Innocent people must not be harassed during police action related to the violence,” she said in Lucknow on Monday. The matter has assumed significance after the BJP suspended Sharma and another leader for remarks after protests from Kuwait, Qatar, Iran and other west Asian countries, she said.