FIR against Nupur Sharma in West Bengal, 112 held for violence

KOLKATA: An uneasy calm descended on pockets of unrest nationwide on Sunday amid a spate of FIRs, fresh arrests and travel curbs on BJP netas in Bengal and continued bulldozer action in UP against those allegedly responsible for Friday’s street violence linked to protests against controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad.
UP police also made 61 more arrests during the day, including a Prayagraj-based imam identified as Ali Ahmad for alleged incitement. Protesters had clashed with cops near Ahmad’s mosque at Atala. Since Friday, 316 people have been arrested in the state and 13 FIRs lodged against 6,000-odd people. The building razed in Prayagraj, in JK Ashiyana, estimated to be worth Rs 5 crore, had been built without official sanction and a notice was slapped on the owner on May 10, officials said.

In Bengal, an FIR against suspended BJP national spokesperson Nupur Sharma was lodged at East Midnapore’s Contai police station, taking the number of cases registered in connection with the violence in Howrah and other parts of the state to 25 over the past 48 hours. The police have so far arrested 112 people for rioting, arson and incitement. Howrah SP (rural) Swati Bhangalia said more than 30 among those arrested had been charged under non-bailable sections such as attempt to murder, attacking police, damaging public property and disrupting national highway.
No fresh incident was reported in Howrah and Murshidabad, although there were reports of stone-pelting on the Ranaghat-Lalgola passenger train in Nadia’s Bethuadahari. Railway said they were awaiting permission to resume train services on the Ranaghat-Lalgola section.
A semblance of normalcy also returned to Howrah following sporadic instances of violence on Saturday night. Howrah district magistrate Mukta Arya extended prohibitory orders in five police station areas until June 15. Internet services are scheduled to resume on Monday.
Trinamool Congress accused BJP of repeatedly trying to disrupt peace after leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari claimed he was stopped from meeting party workers in Howrah. “BJP is playing to the gallery and trying to instigate people. People have rejected them in the election, and they are struggling to get a grip on the dissidence in their own party. They are looking for issues to keep their sinking ship floating,” Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
Adhikari had a public spat with East Midnapore police after he was stopped from proceeding to Howrah, where Section 144 is in force. The BJP MLA dashed off a letter to chief secretary HK Dwivedi, alleging attempts to “restrain my movements”. Adhikari said he would move court on Monday if stopped again.