By Shefa Rafi
Coimbatore: The 23 day Shaheen Bagh style protest against CAA, NRC and NPR at Coimbatore Shaheen Bagh (Aathupalam Irshadul Islam Shaafi Jamath mosque grounds) took a 5 day break following top honchos of the police department persuading the organisors to suspend the sit-in agitation for sometime due to unexpected events that took place couple days ago. They fear that it might harm the harmony of the city.
It may be noted that Muslim outfits alongwith different jamaaths commenced the Delhi Shaheen Bagh style sit-in protest against Citizenship Ammendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) at Aathupalam on February 19 wherein Muslim women alongwith their children took part in large numbers squatting at the protest site. Meanwhile, top level leaders from various political parties addressed during evening hours speaking about the ill effects of CAA, NRC and NPR. Strong armed police pickets were posted near the protest site.
And the protest was going on smoothly sans any incident whatsoever in Coimbatore city. However, a couple of incidents took place wherein unidentified persons attacked a BJP functionary while petrol bombs were hurled at a mosque premises at Ganapathy neighbourhood. Some culprits with ulterior motive to disturb peace in the city were indulging in assault and attack. Police is having a tough time in maintaining peace and harmony.
DGP J K Tripathy alongwith ADGP (Law & Order) Jayant Murali is camping in Coimbatore to oversee bandobust arrangements across the city. Police outpost and regular vehicle check at strategic locations have been intensified as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incidents. In this backdrop, Coimbatore District Collector K Rajamani convened a peace meet at the collectorate with representatives from all religions. Though leaders from different religions attended the meet, representatives from Hindu religion and outfits failed to take part at the peace meet.
The organisors have decided to suspend the protest for five days and announcement regarding resuming the sit-in protest is expected later. Strong contigent of police including Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been posted in Muslim dominanted areas of Ukkadam, Karumbukkadai, Saramedu, Aathupalam, Kuniyamuthur.