Vadodara, 27 September 2014

Police in Vadodara ordered ban on internet to prevent spread of hate messages through whatsapp, exchange of misleading and provoking details on riot incidents and rumors. Agencies providing internet services are asked to halt their services. The order has been effective since midnight. Internet services will resume only on 30th September now. Police has also ordered ban on Short Messaging Service(SMS) for the same period.

In another development, Vadodara police has arrested seven accused in Fatepura Panjrigar mohalla riot case. Police has been granted 3 days remand from 29 September.On City police station Police Inspector JG Amin’s complaint accused Mohammad Sabir Abdul Rehman Mansuri(36, Dudhwala mahollo, Saiyadvada), Allarakhkha Abdul sheikh(25, Bavamanpura, Alif manjil), Sikandar Yusuf Meman(32, Ekta Nagar, Ajwa road), Mohsin Dilawarkhan Pathan(26, Panigate, Bavamanpura), Akbarali saiyadali Saiyad(35, Panigate, Bavamanpura), Altaf Bachubhai Sheikh(25, Panigate, Bavamanpura) and Nuralam Mohammad Akbar(37, Fatepura, Panjrigar Mahollo) were arrested.

Meanwhile Sunil Jagdishsinh Rajput(Lakshminagaran society, Varasia ring road) who had posted a photo on Facebook which provoked Muslims to go on riot has been sent to judicial custody as his bail was denied by local court. Wireman Rizwan Usman Sheikh(Panjrigar mahollo, Fatepura) had filed complaint against Jagdishsinh for posting a photo insulting Islam. Jagdishsinh is booked under IPC 153(C) and 295(C).

After rioting on Thursday in Fatehpura area over Facebook post, on Friday, riots broke out again after Friday Namaz in mosques. Rioters took Fatehpura, Panjgirgar maholla, Champaner darwaja, MG road in their grip.

Police fired 11 rounds in air on second day of riot on Friday. SRP jawans fired 9 rounds from Insas rifle while police jawans in higher officer’s cars fired 2 rounds. Police lobbed 33 tear gas shells in Fatehpura Panjrigar mahollo, Ravat sheri, Alifnagar and Hathikhana, while 10 more shells were lobbed in Adania bridge and Yakutpura. 3 shells were lobbed on MG road. Rioters tried to set a mobile shop on fire twice. However police and fire brigade prevented such attempt.

Meanwhile lawyers are on strike in Vadodara following Police Commissioner Radhakrishnan’s statement that clash of Muslims with lawyers sparked off the riots.Lawyers association president Nalin Patel said Commissioner must apologise for his remarks. It should be mentioned that police has booked 8 lawyers for thrashing two Muslims. As per a complaint filed by Sharid Nuralam Pathan in Raopura police station, he was going on bike with his friend when his bike hit another bike of one lawyer. As many as 8 lawyers in reaction thrashed him, gave threats and damaged his bike. Police has filed complaint against lawyers under section 143, 147, 323, 294(C), 506 and 427.

According to a report in local newspaper, Whatsapp messages were doing rounds in Vadodara asking to come to Jumma mosque for Jumma namaz. A group of Muslims rushed to Sunil classes and vandalized the property there after namaz was over at around 2.00 pm. Another issue with internet was, speedily shared Facebook posts associating those injured in riots with their religious identity.