Prophet Muhammad controversy: Clashes in UP's Prayagraj after Friday prayers

PRAYAGRAJ: Violence erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj district after Friday prayers as groups of protestors indulged in heavy brick battling with police and left over half a dozen policemen injured.
The protestors continued to create ruckus on the narrow lanes of Atala and adjoining areas for more than an hour over alleged insulting remarks made by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Prophet Muhammad during a TV show.

Amidst heavy brick battling, cops had to use tear gas and cane charge the protestors to disperse them.
Heavy police bandobast was being made in trouble-prone Atala and adjoining areas.
Senior Superintendent of police (Prayagraj) Ajay Kumar said “Majority of people have returned to their homes after offering Friday prayers peacefully at Atala area, bordering Kareli and Khuldabad police stations on Friday afternoon”.
He further added, "After the namaz, some groups of protestors including minors, arrived on streets and narrow lanes of Atala and started sloganeering and pelting stones on police parties who were deployed at Atala and adjoining areas in view of Friday prayers."
The protestors also made an abortive bid to set a PAC vehicle and a rickshaw trolley on fire but the timely intervention of firemen averted the scene.
“The cops on duty made their futile attempts to pacify the protestors who continued sloganeering and stone pelting but they did not listen to police officials,” said SSP, adding, cops used mild force to disperse them when they were involved in heavy brick battling with the motto to disperse them.
Meanwhile, the SSP said, "As the Atala and adjoining area is dominated by a particular community, trouble makers, including minors, continued to involve them in sloganeering and pelting stones on police parties at frequent intervals".
SSP, however, said, "The situation is now under control and a strict vigil is being maintained".
He added additional police pickets have been deployed in the area and lanes of the area have been taken under scanner.
SSP, however, said that additional police forces, including PAC and RAF battalions, have been called in from neighbouring districts to maintain law and order.
He also said police have taken some troublemakers into custody and are scanning video footage to identify troublemakers.
Moreover, shops in Muslim-dominated pockets remained closed and adequate police forces were being deployed in other pockets of the city, including Chowk, Ghantaghar, Noorullah road and adjoining areas.