Around 180 people have been detained in Junagadh Saturday after an elderly civilian died and at least four cops were injured in alleged stone-pelting Friday night following a mob attack on the police personnel, the police said Saturday.
The mob attacked the cops after they arrived following a protest over notices issued for the demolition of a masjid, the police added.
“A civilian man has died and prima facie, the death appears to be due to stone-pelting,” said Junagadh Superintendent of Police Ravi Teja Vasamsetty at a press conference Saturday morning.
Junagadh Range Inspector General M A Chavada confirmed by Saturday noon that the deceased was a 62-year-old civilian. “He was an innocent bystander and was not part of the mob,” the Range IG said.
An FIR, lodged at the A-division Junagadh police station Saturday, has named 31 accused, Vasamsetty told The Indian Express.
Following the violence, six police teams, comprising Special Operations Group, the local crime branch and other divisions of the police, were formed and after combing operations through the night, around 180 people have been detained by Saturday evening, Vasamsetty said. However, no official arrests have been made yet as the police “are still in the process of checking CCTV footage”, he added.
Meanwhile, viral videos on social media purportedly showed two men in plain-clothes flogging around seven men who were allegedly involved in the stone-pelting. However, IGP Chavada said, “I don’t know which video you are talking about. There are many videos.”
When asked about the same video, SP Vasamsetty, “Right now, we are more concerned about maintaining the law and order situation and detaining more people. I’ve come across the (said) video, but we’ll inquire about it in due course of time. If at all there is someone (from the police) involved, we’ll initiate an inquiry.”
According to the SP, the Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JuMC) had “given notices to Geban Shah Masjid near Majewadi Gate on June 14 saying they have to show relevant papers to JuMC within five days. Upset over the notices, nearly 500-600 people gathered near Majewadi Gate on June 16.”
IGP Chavada clarified that while the notices were dated June 14, they were pasted on June 16.
“The DySP Junagadh (Hitesh Dhandhaliya), his staff, PI of A-division and B-division police stations of Junagadh, PSIs of A-division, B-division, C-division and LCB were also there at the spot. They were trying to convince the crowd. Deliberations went on for nearly 45 minutes and the police were also trying to remove the roadblock that the crowd had created. Around 10.15 pm, two to four stones were pelted at the police and the crowd, amid sloganeering, began attacking the police. This is when the police lathi-charged to disperse the crowd,” the SP said.
The mob also allegedly attacked and vandalised the Majewadi Gate Police Chowki and also reportedly pelted stones at a Gujarat bus, damaging its front shield and glasses of the side window. Police said the driver sustained minor injuries, while passengers were unhurt.
“Five tear gas shells and dye marker grenade shells were used by the police to disperse the crowd when DySP Junagadh was injured as was PSI Kinjal Maru. Injuries were also sustained by two more PSIs and some other police staff. All are safe and none are critical,” the SP added.
The JuMC notice, dated June 14 and undersigned by senior town planner, was addressed to ‘Hazrat Khijni Shah Pir and Hazrat Gebanshah Pir Dargah’. “As per the Supreme Court’s directions to ensure that there is no religious encroachment and keeping in mind the same, there is illegal encroachment by religious places on public roads. It is to inform you that five days’ time is given to provide supporting proof/ownership proof in this regard. If the appropriate evidence is not provided, then as per GPMC Act (Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations) section 210 and 266, the illegal encroachment from the road will be removed and the cost shall be borne by you. In case of any casualties or accident during this process, the responsibility shall lie with you,” the notice stated.
According to JuMC senior town planner Bipinkumar Gamit, eight religious structures, including three temples and five dargahs, were served with notices of illegal encroachment on public roads. “…(this) was part of our regular procedure of demolition drives undertaken, in compliance with Supreme Court directions. None of the eight who were issued notices have responded with documentary proof to show that the construction made are in legal compliance,” Gamit told The Indian Express.
The accused has been charged under IPC sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to commit murder), 326, 324 (voluntarily causing hurt and grievous hurt with dangerous weapons or means), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 143 (unlawful assembly), 144 (joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapons), 146, 147, 148 (rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 151 (Knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to public servant in the discharge of his duty with intent to prevent or deter public servant from discharging his duty), 353 (assault upon a public servant by causing hurt or grievous hurt in order to deter or obstruct him in the discharge of duties ), 427 (commits mischief), 437 (Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden), 440 (Mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt), 34 (criminal acts done with common intention), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
