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Violence erupts after anti-Muslim posters show up on MSU campus
Trouble erupted in the walled city areas of Vadodara after Friday prayers in the Jumma Masjid over the appearance two days ago of objectionable posters at the M S University campus. Police used lathis and fired teargas shells to disperse stone-pelting mobs protesting against the postersLate in the night, mobs gathered again in the Mandvi area, near the Jumma Masjid, and police lobbed four teargas shells to disperse them. It started a few days ago with M S University Senate member Deepak Shah offering a Rs 1 lakh award daring anybody to offend Islam the way Fine Arts Faculty student Chandramohans works had offended the religious sensibilities of Christians and Hindus. Shah, formerly with the BJP students wing, withdrew his statement, saying he meant no ill will towards any community. However, on Wednesday night an anonymous caller tipped off police and media about posters objectionable to Islam found near the M S University campus. Police seized the posters, bearing words in Hindi and falsely attributing it to Chandramohan. One Farid Lakhajiwala filed a complaint against those responsible for making and distribution of the controversial posters as well as against Shah for his controversial offer. The case was made out under Sections153 (a), 153 (b), 295 (a), and 114 of the Indian Penal Code the same as those pressed against Chandramohan for his art works. Senior Muslim leaders and PUCL activist Prof J S Bandukwala were in discussion with police on how to handle the situation. And on Thursday, M S University deans and department heads adopted a resolution that displaying obscene pieces of art to hurt sentiments, beliefs, and faith was deplorable and should be avoided. On Friday, however, anonymous leaflets calling for a bandh and widespread condemnation of the provocation were found stuck on walls in Muslim areas of the city. There was tension in the air and crowds gathered, with some men bearing images of Osama bin Laden. Stone-pelting followed. Some 15 youths were arrested for rioting and combing operations were on in full swing in walled city areas. Police Commissioner P C Thakur said, Miscreants who wanted to breach the peace have been identified and more arrests will take place tonight. He compared the situation to the teleserial Tamas, which depicted communal violence during the Partition and said the disturbances were all well-planned conspiracies. He said an alert had been sounded and two reserve police companies had been deployed. But Thakur did not comment on why no action was taken against Shah for his provocative statements and offer of a reward. Posted by: John Frum 2007-05-26 |
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