Limbayat rioters were carrying stones as planned

Surat: Police investigation the incident of rioting and stone pelting on cops in Limbayat area has revealed that the attack on cops was planned by the accused well in advance.
The rioters were carrying stones with them, in their pockets and hand, with an aim to help spread violence. The accused started pelting stones when the police tried to stop the protestors from entering the area where shops were open on Wednesday during Bharat Bandh call was given in protest of CAA and NRC.
Initially police booked the accused for rioting but detailed investigation revealed that it was a pre-planned conspiracy. Police have so far arrested 18 people, including the key conspirator Ansar Ehmad Ramjan Ali Qureshi, 25, a labourer. A native of Khagrelu in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Qureshi works in a metal fabrication unit.
“It was Ansar who called everyone to gather in a lane near Madina Mosque and provoked the protesters to carry out a march to the neighbouring areas dominated by other communities and where shops were open as usual. They wanted to force these shops to down shutters,” said a police officer supervising the investigation.
Before the group could make a move, a police patrolling team reached the spot and dispersed the crowd. “After a while Ansar provoked the group again to move forward. Police tried to stop them but they continued shouting slogans and pushed the cops. Taking advantage of the situation some persons also pelted stones on the cops,” the officer informed.
So far police found that Ansar called the accused personally to spot. Police are also checking mobile phones of the accused to find out if they shared any provocative messages to encourage youth to join in the protest. “There were no stones lying in the street where the crowd was stopped by police. They must be carrying stones in pocket or hand,” police informed.
An assistant sub inspector suffered injury on the head in the incident while police booked a group of around 200 for rioting.
It should be noted that for the past three decades Limbayat has remained a communally sensitive area and police station was attacked in the past too. Even the murder of Kamlesh Tiwari, leader of Hindu Samaj Party, in Lucknow in October 2019 was planned in Limbayat.