Ranchi, Jun 11: Two people were killed and more than 11 injured in police firing in Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi during a protest demanding the arrest of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, for her derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammad, it was reported on Saturday.
Official sources said that the two dead were identified as 24-year-old Mohammad Shahid and 22-year-old Kaifi alias Tauseef, who were injured in the police firing, and later died during treatment late last night.
The protests which began after Friday prayers when Muslim’s demanding Nupur Sharma’s arrest for her controversial remarks, took out a procession with black and religious flags and asked the people to keep their shops closed.
During the protest the crowd became increasingly violent and began pelting stones at the police. Several policemen including the station house in-charge of Daily Market police station were injured. Police were forced to resort to lathi charge and aerial firing to control and disperse the violent crowd.
The government has as a precautionary measure completely shut down internet services in the capital Ranchi from Friday night. The government also imposed Section 144 from Firayalal to Sujata Cinema Chowk in Ranchi. In total Section144 has been imposed in 12 police station areas of the capital.
The government has also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
The police have registered an FIR against unknown people for rioting and violence under Doranda, Daily Market and Hindipidi police stations. Police are scanning the CCTV footage to identify the rioters.
Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan has appealed to the people not to pay heed to rumours, adding that they are also not asking the shops to close and that people are also being asked to follow the Covid protocols in the wake of rise in cases.
Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has been deployed near Hanuman temple as a precautionary measure and patrols have been increased in all sensitive areas.
At the same time, Shree Mahavir Mandal and Ranchi Mahanagar Durga Puja Samiti had called for a bandh on Saturday. All shops in the capital Ranchi are closed and traffic has also been disrupted.
