A week after June 10 violence, peace returns to J’khand capital
RANCHI: A week after the violence in Ranchi on June 10, peace prevailed in Jharkhand’s capital Friday prayers amid heavy security, especially along the around one kilometre-long stretch Mahatma Gandhi road, which was the epicentre of disturbance.
Last week, the stretch between Ekra Masjid and Daily Market roundabout on MG road had turned into a battlefield following violent protests after Friday prayers against remarks on Prophet Muhammad by two BJP leaders, which led two persons dead and over a dozen others injured.
Following an appeal by the community leaders and the administration, most believers conducted Jumma Namaz in mosques in their area before returning home.
“We were in touch with the administration and had assured them that peace would prevail. We had appealed the community members to return home after Jumma Namaz. We all have collective responsibility to maintain peace in Ranchi, which is a hallmark of this city. We need to understand that violence hits the poorest the most,” said Maulana Obaidullah, chief cleric, Ekra Masjid.
In order to prevent any repeat of last Friday, the district administration had fortified the area with heavy security deployment.
While no untoward incident was reported in the state capital, majority of the shops and commercial centres remained shut on MG road throughout the day. Section 144 is clamped in six police station limits since Sunday.
“Things have been almost normal for past two days. There were some apprehensions related to Friday. But now we would review the situation and tale a call on lifting prohibitory orders gradually,” a senior police official said.
The Ranchi police have registered 25 FIRs related to June 10 violence and has arrested 29 people so far, including six protesters who are under treatment at RIMS.
The police, however, courted controversy after they released posters of suspects and installed them at public places, seeking leads on them, before withdrawing them within half an hour on “technical grounds”.