By Hasan Akram
An FIR has been registered against five named and almost 40 unidentified persons who protested on Friday in the Phulwari Sharif area of Patna against recent attacks on mosques and properties belonging to Muslims in the north-eastern state of Tripura.
The protest was organised by leaders of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and it was participated by more than 100 men and women.
The FIR registered at the Phulwarisharif police station says that the accused did not follow Covid-19 protocols and raised “provocative” slogans.
Commenting on the allegations, SDPI’s Bihar unit chief Shamim Akhtar said that even police personnel present at the site were not wearing masks. He added that no provocative slogans were raised by protestors. Slogans such as ‘Death to Patna Police’ and ‘Death to BJP’ were raised, he added.
“Godi media are saying provocative slogans were raised by us. If slogans such as ‘Patna Police Murdabad’ and ‘BJP Murdabad’ sound provocative to them then they should quit journalism and join the BJP,” Akhtar said.
The FIR has been lodged on the statement of Circle Officer Chandan Kumar against Engineer Ehsan Parvej, general secretary of the SDPI Bihar, besides Athar Parvej, Sabbir Mallik, Mohammad Sarfaraj, Kaushar Bano and almost 40 unidentified persons.
Scores of mosques and properties belonging to Muslims were attacked by extremists Hindu groups in various areas of Tripura. Islamic organisation Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and other groups have raised their strong concerns over the same.