Friday Frenzy: Curfew imposed in Ranchi after violent mob created ruckus

Ranchi (Jharkhand): The district administration on Friday imposed a curfew in violence-hit areas of Ranchi after a protest erupted against the remarks by the suspended Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nupur Sharma and expelled party leader Naveen Jindal.

“District Administration has imposed a curfew across Ranchi. We appeal to the people to stay at home,” the administration announced.

The protest had turned violent after the incidents of stone-pelting and torching of several vehicles and vandalisation were reported. Many people have sustained injuries in the violent protests.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Inspector General of Ranchi Police (DIG) Anish Gupta had said that the situation was “under control” despite being a “little tense”.

The DIG had also assured the deployment of heavy security and the presence of senior officials at the protest site.

In Punjab, the protestors have demanded the arrest of sacked leaders, whereas the instances of stone-pelting and sloganeering were witnessed after the Friday prayers in Uttar Pradesh.

As per the reports, a massive protest broke out at Delhi’s Jama Masjid which was later brought under control after the police removed protestors from the protest site.

“No call for protest given by Masjid. We don’t know who are the ones protesting, I think they belong to AIMIM or are Owaisi’s people. We made it clear that if they want to protest, they can, but we will not support them,” Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid told media persons.

Notably, a controversy erupted after Nupur Sharma’s remarks against the minorities. Some Gulf countries have also lodged their protest.