Rajsamand Hacking: Right-wing Activists Protest Against the Arrest of the Accused
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Shambulal Regar brutally murdered a Muslim labourer, Mohammed Afrazul, accusing him of Love Jihad, and circulated a video of the murder. Regar was later arrested, but several right-wing Hindu organisations took to the streets in Rajasthan, supporting the murderer. This was despite Section 144 being imposed in the two districts where the rallies took place.
175 people were arrested and several detained for violating the prohibitory orders. The orders will continue until today, and Internet services will remain suspended. Schools and colleges, however, have re-opened.
Wearing saffron bandanas, the right-wing activists were seen climbing on top of buildings, raising slogans and pelting stones. Police had to resort to lathi-charge to control the situation. This led to tension between police and protesters with the latter attacking the police team, leaving ASP Sudhir Chaudhary and 12 other policemen, injured. Many protesters also sustained injuries.
The aggressiveness of the protesters forced the police team, from IG to SP, to resort to lathi-charge. A few shots were also fired in the air to disperse the angry mob.
Sources said that the protesters joined hands with advocates at Court Chauraha and pelted stones on the police team from the Court. They also raised saffron flags.
District Magistrate Vishu Mallick said that internet services will remain suspended till 8 p.m. on Friday. He said that adequate police force has been called in to avoid any disturbance in Udaipur and Rajsamand.
On Thursday, police detained right-wing activist Thakur Updesh Rana in Bagru at the Jaipur border on Ajmer Road to thwart a massive rally that he had called in Udaipur in support of Regar.
There has also been a sharp rise in hate messages being exchanged on social media sites in the wake of the "Love Jihad" killing by Regar.
A public fundraiser was launched to get financial support for Afrazul’s family. 418 people have supported the campaign till now. But shockingly, another fundraiser organised by Hindu groups supporting Regar’s actions got more backers. 516 people deposited money in the account of Regar’s wife, Sita.
(with inputs from IANS)
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