Masihuzzaman Ansari
NEW DELHI—Tragedy befell Ranchi on Friday when two youth were killed and 20 others injured in alleged police firing on the protesters.
Jharkhand police opened fire on a protest demonstration when they were demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Navin Jindal for passing derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Jharkhand Police spokesperson Amol V Homkar has confirmed the death of two youth.
Ranchi City SP Anshuman Kumar said that both died due to bullet injuries.
The slain were identified as Mudassir, 15, and Sahil, 24. Both were part of the protest.
Mudassir was shot in the head, while Sahil received gunshot wounds in his abdomen. Both were declared dead in the hospital. Twenty others were injured, most of them in police firing.
All the injured have been admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, for treatment.
Several cops were also injured in the violence. Curfew has been imposed in some parts of the city and internet services have also been suspended.
Police said some people have been detained, and section 144 has been imposed in the affected places.
Eyewitnesses told India Tomorrow that the police directly opened fire at the protestors.
Sarfaraz, a class 12 student, was shot six times. Naseem Akhtar, who was involved in the demonstration, was hit in the waist. Another injured Tabarak Qureshi has also been shot in the waist.
Police said they fired in the air to control the mob violence. However, the dead and the injured have received bullets in the head, kidney, groin, and leg.
Social activist Afzal Anees told India Tomorrow that most of the people have received gunshot wounds. The condition of some of the injured is said to be serious.
Apart from this, 15 other people have also been shot at.
The bodies of the dead have been handed over to the family for last rites.
Protestors are demanding that Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Manjhi should personally visit them.
The administration has suspended internet service in Ranchi as a precautionary measure.
Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Surendra Kumar Jha said after Friday prayers, a large number of protesters gathered from Iqra Masjid and surrounding areas and started pelting stones.
He told a news agency that the police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the miscreants who were pelting stones. “When the situation did not come under control, police had to open fire in the air,” he said
Though police are claiming to have fired in the air, most of the protestors received gunshot wounds. Eyewitnesses said protesters were shot by the police, resulting in the death of two youths and injuries to dozens of others.
Many videos are also going viral on social media in which police can be seen firing at the crowd.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren appealed to the people to maintain peace.
Protesters were demanding the arrest of BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Navin Jindal for making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Despite protests, those who made derogatory remarks have not yet been arrested.
