Bulldozers commissioned by the Yogi Government, to settle scores with vandals -- who damaged public property in the recent protests over the remarks on the Prophet -- were out in the streets for the second day.
If it was Saharanpur on Saturday, on Monday, they rolled down in Prayagraj under heavy police cover and demolished the home of a local politician accused of masterminding the clashes on Friday.
Video footage showed the razing of the house of Javed, who also happens to be the father of JNU student Afreen Fatima and the president of Welfare Party of India. Afreen was active in the Shaheen Bagh anti-CAA protests in Delhi.
The Prayagraj police also arrested the Imam of Atala mosque, Maulana Ali Ahmad, in connection with the recent violence. It is alleged that the trouble in the city started after a signal emanated from the Atala mosque on Friday after the prayers.
According to police, Imam Maulana Ali Ahmad was among those who incited the people to go on rampage.
Cracking down on protestors, the administration has seized also three buildings in Kanpur that belonged to those associated with the mastermind of violence, Jafar Hayat Hashmi.
In Prayagraj, the action started on Sunday morning when thousands of security personnel converged at the Kareli residence of Javed Ahmad, along with three bulldozers. The residents of the house were given one hour’s time to vacate the site after which the demolition drive started.
During demolition, the police recovered some flags and posters in support of the protestors. The officials looking after demolition drive informed media persons that the house was illegally constructed and notice was served on the owner on May 10. The house owner did not respond, neither he could produce any valid document showing ownership of the plot, after which demolition orders were issued on May 25.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Kumar said that Javed is in police custody and is under the scanner over his role in the rampage.
Lawyers for the politician denied claims made by the authorities -- about serving him a notice -- in a letter to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.
Alleging that the authorities had not followed rules and that the demolition was illegal, they said Javed was not the owner of the house that was demolished. The house was in the name of his wife, who had not received any notice of illegal construction.
A day after violence broke out during protests after Friday prayers in Prayaraj, a demolition drive was carried out by Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) at the ‘illegally constructed’ residence of the mastermind of violence, Javed Ahmed.
Earlier, the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) had issued a demolition notice at his residence, asking him to vacate the house by 11 am today as it is “illegally constructed”.
Posters and flags were taken out of the residence of Prayagraj violence accused Javed Ahmed, during the demolition drive.
Protests erupted in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal over the controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad made by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal.
Uttar Pradesh Police have detained the “mastermind” of the violent protest which broke out in Prayagraj after Friday prayers on June 10.
Names of people linked with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) have surfaced, said Prayagraj Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Kumar, adding that there could be more masterminds.
“Mastermind Javed Ahmed detained, there could be more masterminds…The anti-social elements used minor kids to hurl stones at the police and administration. A case registered under 29 crucial sections. Action will be taken under Gangster Act and the NSA,” he told reporters here.
“Names of some people from AIMIM have surfaced, we are gathering evidence against them,” Kumar said.
The SSP said that there are 70 others who are named as accused and over 5000 people unnamed in the violence. “Action will be taken under the Gangster Act and NSA,” he added.
