Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Tension gripped Jammu and Kashmir as protests and shutdown were reported in various parts of the Union Territory today after a video against Prophet Muhammad went viral on social media yesterday night. Police have arrested two people involved in the act.
Police immediately swung into action and held two persons, who are members of Bharat Raksha Manch. One of the arrested persons is the head of the Manch and has been identified as Satpal.
Expressing strong anger and resentment over the sacrilegious video, protests erupted in Banihal and Kishtwar areas of Jammu region. Protests also broke out in various parts of Srinagar. Markaz Islamia Kishtwar has called for massive protests against the viral video. Sensing trouble, Kishtwar administration imposed curfew in the district to prevent any communal frenzy.
Kashmir’s Grand Mufti, Nasir-ul-Islam, while expressing serious concern over the sacrilegious video and comments against Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on social media, asked people to stage peaceful protests against the act after Friday prayers.
The Grand Mufti said that blasphemous comments against beloved Prophet Muhammad are highly condemnable and intolerable.
“I urge people of Kashmir to stage peaceful protest against the video circulated on social media by some people in Jammu. All imams should condemn the act in Friday sermons and demand stern punishment against those involved in the act,” Grand Mufti said, and urged people to keep their protests peaceful.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, Mukhesh Singh said that police have taken cognizance and an FIR has been registered as well.
“Two persons involved in the act have been arrested and more will be arrested,” Singh said and appealed to people to maintain calm and to protect the communal fabric and age old harmony of J&K.
IGP Jammu said that in connection with the video that had gone viral, in which unsavoury utterances have been made inciting communal sentiments, police has registered an FIR at Pacca Danga police station.
“Main accused Satpal has been arrested along with another accused Deepak,” he added.
-CHK