Rioting in Surat as Muslims protest attack on mosque

There was heavy stone-pelting in Begumpura, Salbatpura, and Ring Road, neighbouring the mosque. About a dozen cars and two-wheelers were damaged.

The mosque was attacked on Thursday allegedly by Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists demonstrating against the serial bomb blasts on trains in Mumbai. Following an altercation, the activists had reportedly broken some furniture and tubelights at the mosque.

After the Friday prayer gathering, people reached the Salbatpura Police Station, raised slogans against Chief Minister Narendra Modi, and demanded the arrest of those who had attacked the mosque.

They alleged that though the culprits could be identified from video footage available with some local television channels, police had not made any arrest.

When police lathi-charged the protesters, things worsened. Soon, 2,000-3,000 people gathered at the spot and the stone-pelting followed.

Soon, textile traders in the markets in the Ring Road, Bhagal, Chowk Bazaar, Lal Gate, Sagrampura, Station Road, and Mahidharpura areas downed shutters, fearing arson.

Senior police officers including Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha rushed to the area and brought the situation under control. Later, Sinha said, “We have already registered an FIR against the VHP workers for ransacking the Morcha Masjid on Thursday night. We have also sought video clippings of Thursday’s ransacking from some local television channels to trace the persons responsible. We have assured the members of the minority community that the accused will be arrested soon.”

He said heavy police deployment had been made in sensitive areas and police were in talks with community leaders to help keep the peace.

Gulam Patel, a leader of the Muslim community, said, ‘‘This is a reaction to Thursday’s ransacking of the Morcha Masjid by the VHP workers. The police have registered a case against 100 persons but they are yet to arrest a single VHP worker. We strongly demand that the accused be strictly dealt with.”