FIR of rioting against mob of 100+ for assaulting youth from Bhiwandi

BHIWANDI: A day after a mob allegedly assaulted an engineering student, Saad Ansari, for "supporting" suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, the police registered a criminal offence against the mob late Monday.
Of the crowd of 100 to 125 who had assembled outside Ansari's Bhiwandi home on Sunday, 18 have been identified. The entire mob has been booked for 'rioting' and 'threatening' under sections of Indian Penal Code.
Ansari, who has been arrested, had voiced support for Sharma over her controversial remark on Prophet Mohammed. The mob, that gathered outside his home, demanded that he apologise for supporting Sharma.
As Ansari pleaded with the mob, they made him read the Kalma (Islamic phrases). As he did so, a man in the crowd allegedly slapped him in the face while others threatened him. Now, with a video showing the assault having gone viral on social media, the police said they initiated the action.
Deputy commissioner Yogesh Chavan said, "We have arrested the youth [Ansari]... but have also initiated action against the mob that took the law into their hands to punish him.
He said that if someone says something "wrong or derogatory", people should approach the police. "They should not take the law into their hands. If not, they will be punished," he said. Heavy security has been deployed outside Ansari's home.
In a related development, suspended BJP spokesperson, Nupur Sharma who had been summoned by the police on Monday over the alleged objectionable remarks, has sought four weeks to appear to record her statement. Confirming this, Chavan said, "We haven't yet decided on giving her four weeks time."
Also, on another complaint lodged at Narpoli police station, Bhiwandi, another youth, Mukesh Chavan (22), has been booked for supporting Sharma on social media.