Muslim cleric arrested for 'hate speech' - Protests at Mumbai Police Station
In a combined operation with mumbai detectives, gujarat Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) detained Islamic preacher Mufti salman Azhari in mumbai on sunday for allegedly making an inflammatory statement. Mufti salman was seized at the Ghatkopar police station, and hundreds of his followers gathered outside to demand his immediate release.
According to a PTI spokesman, police lathicharged Mufti supporters as traffic in the vicinity was blocked. mumbai police said in a statement that a charge has been filed against the crowd that assembled outside Ghatkopar police station after Maulana Mufti salman Azhari was taken in.
The preacher also addressed his supporters from within the police station, urging them not to protest. "I am not a criminal, and I have not been brought here to do a crime. They are conducting the necessary investigations, and I am also collaborating with them. Mufti salman Azhari stated, "I am ready to be arrested if that is my destiny."
Mufti and two others were detained under Sections 153B (promoting enmity between different religious communities) and 505 (2) (statements published to incite an offence against a community) of the indian Penal Code, days after a lecture he gave in Gujarat's Junagadh was widely shared online.
The two others, Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara, are local organisers who were detained by the gujarat police prior to Mufti's arrest. The gujarat police then approached the maharashtra police for assistance in arresting the priest.
Mufti's lawyer stated that 35 to 40 police officers dressed in civilian clothing appeared at his home on sunday morning. He further stated that the officers refused to notify them of the reason of their visit.
According to a PTI spokesman, police lathicharged Mufti supporters as traffic in the vicinity was blocked. mumbai police said in a statement that a charge has been filed against the crowd that assembled outside Ghatkopar police station after Maulana Mufti salman Azhari was taken in.
The preacher also addressed his supporters from within the police station, urging them not to protest. "I am not a criminal, and I have not been brought here to do a crime. They are conducting the necessary investigations, and I am also collaborating with them. Mufti salman Azhari stated, "I am ready to be arrested if that is my destiny."
Mufti and two others were detained under Sections 153B (promoting enmity between different religious communities) and 505 (2) (statements published to incite an offence against a community) of the indian Penal Code, days after a lecture he gave in Gujarat's Junagadh was widely shared online.
The two others, Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara, are local organisers who were detained by the gujarat police prior to Mufti's arrest. The gujarat police then approached the maharashtra police for assistance in arresting the priest.
Mufti's lawyer stated that 35 to 40 police officers dressed in civilian clothing appeared at his home on sunday morning. He further stated that the officers refused to notify them of the reason of their visit.