Prayagraj violence key accused only had 3 minor cases against him: Cops
PRAYAGRAJ: Javed Mohammad, a Muslim activist and businessman from Prayagraj whose house was demolished for alleged building violations after protests in the city on June 10, had till then only three cases lodged against him on comparatively minor charges, police officials said on Tuesday.
Mohammad (57) was arrested on June 11 and named as the key facilitator for the violent protests that swept the city last Friday and left two dozen people injured. The protests were against controversial comments made on Prophet Mohammed by two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokespersons, one of whom is now suspended and the other expelled.
Police say that Mohammad, whose house in the JK Ashiyana colony of Prayagraj was demolished on June 12 for undertaking the construction of the house in violation of the set norms of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Ordinance, 1973 and without permission of the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA), urged and incited people to assemble and demonstrate on June 10 through Whatsapp groups.
But records show that prior to
June 10, Mohammad only had three minor cases filed against him in 2020. Two cases were lodged under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for violating Covid guidelines during the pandemic lockdowns and restrictions. The third was lodged under section 379 (theft) for allegedly felling three trees at Kala Danda Qabristan in the Himmatganj area of Prayagraj. Two of the cases were lodged under Section 188 for violating Covid guidelines. However, in one of the FIRS lodged under section 379, Javed has been accused of felling three trees. Mohammad was a social activist and worked on minority issues. As a peace committee member of Khuldabad police station, he attended many peace committee meetings, said police officials.