Don't Share Clash-related Jokes, Videos, Say Mumbai Police After Mira Road Incident

Days after clashes between two communities took place before and after the Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, Mumbai Police on Wednesday issued a note asking people to not share any clash-related jokes or videos on social media.

Meanwhile, the local administration on Tuesday brought out ‘Bulldozer action’ to take down illegal encroachments in Mumbai’s Mira Road area.

The Maharashtra government said “illegal structures and encroachments” were razed by bulldozers in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road where stone were pelted at the processions and celebrations that took place to mark the ‘pran pratishtha’ of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

On Tuesday night as well, instances of stone pelting at some shops in the Mira Road area went viral on social media.

With the help of police, the Municipal Corporation — following the Eknath Shinde-led government’s instructions — took the action on these structures.

Videos of the incident on Sunday and Monday went viral on social media with people demanding strict actions against those responsible.

The police on Monday arrested at least 13 persons in connection with the violence that took place late on Sunday.

The arrested persons allegedly assaulted a group of persons taking out a vehicle rally in the Mira Bhayandar area adjoining Mumbai on Sunday night.

TOP POINTS

1. Mumbai Police on Wednesday issued a note saying that sharing or forwarding of any kind of clash-related jokes or videos on social media is not allowed, an India Today report said.
2. The local civic body on Tuesday used bulldozers to take down illegal structures and encroachments in Mira Road’s Naya Nagar area following the instructions from the Shinde-led government.
3. The bulldozer action took place amid high level of security arrangements as teams from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Maharashtra Security Force (MSF), SRPF, Local police, Mumbai Police, Palgar Police and Thane Rural Police were deployed in the area.
4. Meanwhile, Mumbai Police banned the assembly of five or more persons and processions in the city till February 6 amid security concerns.
5. The order was issued under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act after officials received information about possible breach of peace, danger to human lives and loss of property.
6. Police have so far arrested two persons in relation to the attack on a procession in Thane on Monday. A group of nearly 15 armed persons attacked the members of the rally with iron rods, wooden sticks and sharp objects. People said that they are hunting the others involved in the incident.
7. On Tuesday as well, stones were pelted at some shops in the Mira Road area by some unidentified group of persons. Videos of this incident have also been doing rounds on social media platforms.
8. DCP Jayant Bajbale on Tuesday said that the person who posted the viral video of one Abu Shaikh — seen provoking people — was arrested and that the MBVV police have sought two days of custody of him.
9. By Monday night, Mumbai Police arrested 13 persons in connection to the clash on Sunday, where the accused allegedly assaulted a group of people taking out vehicle rally in Naya Nagar on the eve of Ram Mandir’s pran pratishtha ceremony.
10. Stone pelting incident was also reported from the Thane district on Monday as miscreants threw stones at a procession taken out to mark the Ram Temple idol consecration in Ayodhya. Several people were injured in the incident, police officials said.
11. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had taken to X and said that there will be “zero tolerance” against those who disrupt law and order situation in Maharashtra.
12. DCP Jayant Bajbale said that a case was registered against five persons and further investigation into the matter was underway.

(With PTI inputs)