Clash over loud music during Durga idol immersion, 32 held, 50 booked: Sultanpur, UP

A screengrab from the viral video on Twitter.
 

Largescale arrests of approximately 32 persons for allegedly attacking a crowd taking part in a Durga idol immersion procession in Baldirai area of Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, police said on Wednesday, October 12. They said the incident occurred when some people objected to “music being played at a loud volume” during the procession.

According to the police version, the group also allegedly attacked some of the police personnel who reached the spot. Additional police force soon arrived and brought the situation under control. Seven persons, including two policemen, were injured and several vehicles and shops were damaged, said an officer. Superintendent of Police, Sultanpur, Somen Barma said the arrested persons are in judicial custody and a search is on for more accused in the case.

On Wednesday, a video circulated on social media exposed the partisan behaviour of the police, in which a policeman is seen addressing the public after the incident on Wednesday. In his comments, the policeman is heard saying, “Durga Mata ke iss dharmic yatra mai jis kisi betey nai dussahas kiya hai… Mai aap se wada karta hoon unko mitti mai mila dunga. Unkey ghar bulldozer sey girangey. (Whoever has done this, I am making a promise to you that they will be punished… their houses will be bulldozed.)

However, when the media, including The Indian Express, contacted the station house officer (SHO) of Balidarai police station Amrendra Bahadur Singh after reports that it was he who made the remarks, Singh claimed amnesia, “I cannot recollect what statement I made to the public then.”

According to the police, on Monday evening, when the procession reached near a mosque in Ibrahimpur area, a group of people objected to “loud music” being played. Around 6pm on October 10, at least 50 people were taking out a procession for Durga idol immersion. When the procession reached Ibrahimpur locality, members of the minority community objected to the loud music and asked the processionists to lower the volume as they were offering ‘namaz’. An argument ensued which resulted in a clash between the two groups. Some residents called the number UP 112 which reached the spot and controlled the mob.

Police have charged the accused with attempt to murder and registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Act, 2020, reported The Times of India.  Superintendent of police, Sultanpur, Somen Barma said, “On the basis of CCTV footage and video clips of the incident, 55 people have been identified of whom 30 have been arrested. The arrested persons include the principal and maulvi of a madrassa who had reportedly incited the mob to hurl stones at the procession.”

The officer also said that the statements of local residents present at the spot would also be recorded. The police is also making efforts to identify the people whose vehicles got damaged during the violence and get their case registered.  A report has also been sought by the DGP headquarters in this connection.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by cleric Maulana Mehatrul Islam met the district magistrate of Sultanpur on Wednesday claiming that the police were taking action against one side only.

“Both sides were party to the violence. The DM has assured us that non-partisan action will be taken in the case,” he told media persons.
 

Police also said the scuffle broke out when some in the group forcibly tried to stop the music. Meanwhile, a large group of people reached the spot and attacked people taking part in the procession with sticks. When a police team arrived, assailants pelted stones at them too. They also damaged vehicles parked along the roadside and also pelted stones at houses and shops. Those injured were taken to hospital.

Amrendra Bahadur said a total of four FIRs were registered in the matter. The case was registered on various IPC sections 147 (rioting), 307 (attempt to murder), 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) and 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty).

Heavy police force has since been deployed in the Ibrahimpur area.

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