- Local BJP leaders staged a protest during a bandh in east Maharashtra’s Amravati city on Sunday
- Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said: “Please maintain calm… I appeal to all Hindus and Muslims brethren to maintain peace”
- As a result of the recent violence in Amravati, the role of Raza Academy is in the spotlight
Amravati: The Maharashtra government on Saturday clamped prohibition orders in Amravati after it was rocked by violence last week during a bandh (shutdown) sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The order was issued by Police Commissioner Sandip Patil under Section 144 (1), (2), (3) of the CrPC to prevent any untoward incident.
Besides medical emergencies, no person shall be allowed to leave their homes and a gathering of five or more persons is prohibited, as per the order.
Role of Raza Academy
As a result of the recent violence in Amravati, the role of Raza Academy is in the spotlight. Raza Academy held a meeting of ulemas in Mumbai on October 30. During the meeting, they denounced the violence in Tripura that took place in Panisagar on October 27. It was chaired by Moin Miya, its patron. Another meeting was held on November 2 and a letter was written to the President of India seeking President’s Rule in Tripura. They further called for Maharashtra Bandh on November 12.
During the rallies taken out by Muslim organisations on November 12, stone-pelting was reported in Nanded, Amravati, Malegaon (in Nashik district), Washim and Yavatmal. Also, Raza Academy gave a memorandum to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, demanding compensation for those who were affected by the violence in Tripura and reconstruction of the mosques that were damaged.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil then urged restraint from all groups. “Please maintain calm… I appeal to all Hindus and Muslims brethren to maintain peace,” said Walse-Patil.
Amravati violence
The BJP had organised the bandh to protest against the violence that occurred in Amravati, Nashik, and Nanded during the state-wide demonstrations and rallies by Raza Academy and other Muslim organisations.
Notably, Friday’s action by Muslim groups had caught the Maha Vikas Aghadi government off guard.
On Saturday morning, a huge number of people crowded the streets amid tight police security, waving flags, carrying banners, and screaming slogans. Later, some people began throwing stones at private and public vehicles, shops and establishments, and the police caned miscreants to control the violence.
“I am closely monitoring the entire situation with the help of senior police officers and discussing with senior Opposition leaders. All those guilty would not be spared… We all must maintain social harmony and I request all to cooperate with us. I request the same to my police brethren to handle the situation cautiously and to maintain peace,” said Walse-Patil on Saturday.
Amravati curfew
On Sunday, local BJP leaders staged a protest during a bandh in east Maharashtra’s Amravati city, prompting an extension of the curfew to Morshi, Warud, Achalpur and Anjangaon Surji towns of the Amravati district. Police have, meanwhile, arrested 50 people in connection with back-to-back incidents of stone-pelting that occurred in Amravati city on Friday and Saturday.
The situation in Amravati remained peaceful on Sunday as eight battalions of the State Reserve Police Force and an extra number of police personnel from Jalna, Nagpur, Wardha and Buldhana districts were deployed in the city, said district guardian minister Yashomati Thakur.
Besides a curfew for four days in Amravati city, Internet services have also been shut down.
