Protest in Mumbai turns violent; RR Patil speaks for peace
A meeting held at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai to protest the recent attacks in Assam and Myanmar turned violent on Saturday with groups attacking media persons as well as the police. Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Azad Maidan Ground in south Mumbai this afternoon following a call by a city-based organisation Raza Academy to denounce the violence in Assam.
The ground is located near Mumbai civic body headquarters and CST Mumbai railway station.
Protesters turned violent at around 3:30pm attacking an outdoor broadcast van of media channels, and torching a police vehicle.
The protesters then entered the CST Railway terminus and damaged window panes. While the protesters had permission to gather at Azad Maidan, the group took the protest to the streets.
According to the police, the violence has ended now and the protesters have dispersed.
Earlier, sporting black badges, hundreds of members and activists of these organisations, converged at the Azad Maidan and expressed concern over the massacre of the Muslim community.
Maulana Syed Moinuddin Ashraf, president of Jamia Qadriya Ashrafiya, urged the Central and state governments to intervene.
'It is the responsibility of the Congress government to protect the Muslims, and for that matter each and every citizen,' said the Maulana, who is also known as Moin Miyan.
'With regards to the massacre in Myanmar, we understand it is an external problem and that certainly should be taken care of, but what is happening in Assam reflects on the state of affairs of the country,' he added.
'A large number of Muslims have been rendered homeless and are now living in camps,' said Raza Academy chairman Saeed Noorie.
Noorie said they have already written to the government of Myanmar, the United Nations, the International Human Rights Organisation, Organisation of Islamic Countries, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to highlight the massacre of Muslims in Myanmar.
After the protest in Mumbai turned violent, Maharashtra home minister RR Patil has appealed for peace.
The minister has appealed to people to maintain calm, he said. He reviewed the situation with senior officials, the spokesperson added.
(With agency inputs)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India...-Patil-appeals-for-peace/Article1-912009.aspx
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