Insult-on-Prophet: 72-yr-old arrested for disruption of harmony

New Delhi: For allegedly disrupting communal harmony and holding protests before the Jama Masjid against insult- on-Prophet Muhammed, a 72-year-old was was held here on Wednesday. Police said that the accused, Anwaruddin, of Matia Mahal near Jama Masjid, was arrested, without a warrant, under CrPC Section 41A, PTI reported.

Anwaruddin, who runs a motor shop in the area, has previously been involved in 10 criminal cases, including three related to riots, a senior police officer said.

According to the police, the arrestee, a motor shop owner, was involved in 10 earlier criminal cases. He is accused of forcefully making shopkeepers shut shops during the protest on June 10 after Friday prayers.

Police found from a preliminary investigation that the people were mobilized through WhatsApp messages.

On June 10, mosque-goers gathered before Jama Masjid as same, like many other places and initiated a protest against the controversial statements by suspended BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Navee Kumar Jindal against Prophet Muhammed. The protesters, who carried placards and raised slogans, demanded the duo's arrests.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chauhan had informed, "On June 10, an FIR was registered at Jama Masjid police station against the protesters under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as a protest was held in the Jama Masjid area after Friday prayers without permission. Section 153A IPC has also been added (to the FIR) for promoting communal disharmony in the area."

A day after the protest, the police arrested two regarding the matter.