Protests were held in different states across India over insulting remarks against the Prophet Muhammad (saw).
In several cities protests turned violent with security forces resorting to cane-charge, tear gas shelling and firing.
Authorities imposed prohibitory orders in parts of Ranchi as slogan shouting protesters carrying placards demanded the arrest of Nupur Sharma, former national spokesperson of the ruling BJP, and Naveen Jindal, a former head of the Delhi BJP’s media unit.
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Most of the protests including at the historic Jama Masjid in Delhi broke out after the Friday prayers and several arrests were also made by the police.
Hundreds of protesters massed outside Jama Masjid and some of them gathered on the steps of the mosque. However, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, distanced himself from the protests saying “nobody knows who the protesters were” and demanded action against such people.
Senior police officials said the protests were held peacefully and lasted for 15 to 20 minutes.
In Uttar Pradesh, stones were pelted at policemen in Prayagraj and Saharanpur during the protests which were also witnessed in Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur and Lucknow.
In Prayagraj, some motorcycles and carts were set on fire and an attempt was made to set ablaze a police vehicle, a police official said.
Police used tear gas and lathis to disperse mobs and peace was later restored, the official said, adding that one policeman was hurt in Prayagraj. In Saharanpur, protesters demanded the death sentence for Nupur Sharma.
In Ranchi, the police fired in the air to disperse a gathering that pelted stones, injuring Ranchi SSP Surendra Jha, another officer, and a policeman. Jha suffered a concussion after a stone hit the helmet he was wearing. The district administration later imposed prohibitory orders in the Main Road area.
In West Bengal’s Howrah, prohibitory orders were imposed in several areas after protesters attacked a police station and also set fire to a few kiosks, and several two-wheelers and vehicles. Officials said at least 12 policemen were injured.
In Kolkata, protesters blocked the Park Circus seven-point crossing for over two hours demanding the arrest of Nupur Sharma. “Expect CM Smt. Mamata Banerjee to sternly warn law violators — they will not be spared,” Dhankhar said in a tweet.
In J&K, all business establishments remained shut in Srinagar while authorities snapped mobile internet services for most of the day before restoring them late in the evening.
The protests came a day after an indefinite curfew was imposed in Kishtwar district and Bhaderwah town in Doda district while prohibitory orders were imposed in the rest of the Chenab Valley.