Mumbai Police have registered a case against a mob that gathered outside Ghatkopar Police Station late on Sunday night, demanding the release of Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari. Azhari is facing hate speech charges for a viral video of an event held on January 31 in Junagadh, Gujarat.
The case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), such as 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act. Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, Azhari, arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), has been taken to the agency’s office in Ahmedabad. The Gujarat ATS secured a two-day remand for Azhari from a Mumbai Court, enabling them to proceed with investigations in Junagadh.
Azhari’s lawyer, Arif Siddiqui, stated, “He has been sent to a 2-day transit remand. We have been told that he will be taken to Junagadh (Gujarat).”
Mob attack in Mumbai
Gujarat Police detained Azhari in Mumbai over a hate speech case. Upon his arrival at Ghatkopar Police Station, a sizable crowd, estimated at 3000 to 4000 people, gathered, demanding his release. This led to unrest in the city with the crowd reportedly obstructing LBS Road on Sunday night.
During the disturbance, five people, accused of throwing stones at a BEST bus, were arrested by the Ghatkopar police. Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Rajput led the police in a lathi charge to disperse the crowd, responding to alleged stone-pelting at a bus and attempts to stop vehicles. The situation was eventually brought under control with Mumbai Police highlighting the restoration of peace in the Ghatkopar area.
To manage the situation, the police requested Azhari to address the crowd through a loudspeaker, urging them to disperse. While some complied, approximately 1,500 people remained. After attempts to halt buses and reportedly pelting stones at a bus, a police team led by Rajput conducted a lathi charge, clearing the main road in the next 15-20 minutes with the assistance of reserve police.
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Azhari’s arrest for hate speech
Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari was arrested on Sunday by the Gujarat Police in Mumbai for his involvement in a hate speech delivered during an event in Junagadh on January 31.
The speech took place at an open ground near the ‘B’ division police station in Junagadh. Following the video’s viral spread, an FIR was filed against Azhari and local organizers Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara under sections 153B and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to promoting enmity between different religious groups and making statements conducive to public mischief.
While Malek and Habib were detained on Saturday, Azhari was located in Mumbai and then arrested. Subsequently, he is being transported back to Junagadh after obtaining a transit remand from a Mumbai court, according to Junagadh crime branch police inspector J J Patel.
The operation was conducted by the Junagadh police with assistance from the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad. Azhari is scheduled to appear before a court in Junagadh on Tuesday.
Despite having obtained permission from the police for the gathering, where Azhari was supposed to discuss religion and promote awareness about de-addiction, he is accused of delivering an inflammatory speech. The Junagadh local crime branch is actively investigating the case.