The Evening Wrap: More than 250 arrests in U.P. over protests against Prophet remarks

The Uttar Pradesh Police arrested as many as 255 people, including Prayagraj-based political activist Javed Mohammad, across seven districts in the State for stone-pelting and illegal gathering during the protests after Friday prayers against the comments made on Prophet Muhammad by two Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. Several State leaders of the BJP have endorsed using bulldozers to demolish the properties of those accused. The highest number of arrests were in Prayagraj (68), followed by Saharanpur (64), Hathras (50), Ambedkar Nagar (28), Moradabad (27), Firozabad (13), Aligarh (3) and Jalaun (2). As the State government intensified its crackdown against the Muslim protestors on Saturday, several members of the ruling BJP, including its state president Swatantra Dev Singh, endorsed using bulldozers to demolish the properties of the accused persons. In Prayagraj, where protesters engaged in stone-pelting on police following Friday namaz in Atala area, police said properties of the accused would be demolished on the basis of evidence. Police said Javed Mohammad alias Javed Pump had organised the protest and blamed him for the “conspiracy.” Mr. Mohammad is a member of the federal committee of the Welfare Party of India, headed by S.Q.R. Ilyas, father of jailed former JNU student leader Umar Khalid. Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry said that the situation is being monitored and issued an advisory to the States regarding the protests, particularly after such demonstrations turned violent in some States such as West Bengal and Jharkhand. Similar protests were held in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Telangana and Gujarat. Police could be the target of the protesters, the Ministry warned in its advisory and asked the personnel to wear riot gear. In Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chauhan said a case has been registered under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code on Friday against the protesters and further investigation is underway. The security was heightened in Jharkhan capital Ranchi after two people succumbed to injuries due to gunshot wounds received during the violent protests on Friday. Over two dozen people have been reported injured and internet connection was suspended in the capital city. In Bengal, as violent protests continued to rage for the third day, State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar was arrested while he was on his way to Howrah district. Police tried to dissuade the BJP leader from proceeding to Howrah which has been witnessing violence since Thursday, but he was insistent. There was fresh violence at Panchala in Howrah, where protesters clashed with police. Several shops, a few houses including an ATM were set on fire in Panchala. Violence was also reported from Reginagar in the State’s Murshidabad district where a mob pelted stones and set some installations on fire later in the evening. Presidential election | Mamata calls meeting of Opposition leaders, CMs With the presidential election around the corner, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Opposition leaders requesting them to attend a meeting on June 15 convened by her in New Delhi to prepare a joint strategy. “Our hon’ble chairperson @MamataOfficial calls upon all progressive opposition forces to meet and deliberate on the future course of action keeping the Presidential elections in sight, at the Constitution Club, New Delhi on June 15 2022 at 3 PM,” the Trinamool Congress tweeted. The Bengal CM has reached out to her counterparts in Opposition-ruled States and other leaders to participate in the joint meeting in Delhi. IAEA abstention on Iran in line with India’s Russia, non-alignment policy India’s abstention vote during an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors meeting this week is being seen as a significant show of support for Tehran, and a reassertion of its “non-aligned” stance as seen on its policy on Russia and the war in Ukraine. Along with Pakistan and Libya, India, on Wednesday, was one of the three countries who abstained from the resolution criticising Iran for flouting IAEA requests for inspections of its nuclear programme and other processes. Of the 35-nation Board of Governors of the IAEA, 30 countries voted for the resolution brought by US and “E-3” nations U.K., Germany and France, while Russia and China voted against it. Notably, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian began an official visit to India on Wednesday, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. While the Ministry of External Affairs made no mention of their talks on the IAEA meeting and resolution explicitly, an official statement said that Mr. Abdollahian “briefed the External Affairs Minister on the current situation pertaining to the JCPOA,” referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on nuclear issues agreed to by Iran in 2015. The MEA declined to comment on India’s decision to abstain from the vote, much as it did on the vote against Russia on March 3 for the war in Ukraine. As tensions rise, India’s decision not to go with the U.S. and European countries, is seen as a vote in support of Iran and a reassertion of India’s policy of “non-alignment” that has been referred to by the government in the past few weeks. Terror cases | Enforcement Directorate identifies assets worth ₹1,250 crore The Enforcement Directorate identified properties worth about ₹1,250 crore as proceeds of alleged crimes under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after its probe regarding terrorism-related cases. Assets valued at ₹884 crore currently stand attached and others worth ₹98 crore have been confiscated under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA). The ED has taken action with respect to more than 250 properties in different parts of the country and filed 37 prosecution complaints (charge sheets) against the accused persons. The agency has so far identified “proceeds of crime” to the tune of ₹1,000 crore in a case against international drug trafficker Iqbal Mirchi, involving 27 properties. It included a hotel in Dubai, some properties in the United Kingdom, four hotels in Delhi, 15 properties in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra and a cluster of properties in Cyprus Valley. On the agency’s request, the Interpol has issued red notices against Mirchi’s wife Hajra Memon and their sons, Junaid and Asif, who are currently in the United Kingdom. Other high-profile cases include those against fugitive Zakir Naik and associated entities, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and others, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah, Pakistan-based Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, and cases against the terror outfits operating in the northeastern States, including NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K). Ukraine pleads for more weapons, cholera spreads in Mariupol Ukraine, now under heavy pounding from Russia in its eastern regions, appealed to the West for faster deliveries of weapons and for humanitarian support to combat growing outbreaks of deadly diseases. The appeal came as Sievierodonetsk, the small city that has become the focus of Russia’s advance in eastern Ukraine and one of the bloodiest flashpoints in a war well into its fourth month, witnessed further heavy fighting according to reports. The war in the east, where Russia is focussing its attention, is now primarily an artillery battle in which Kyiv is severely outgunned, Ukrainian officials say. That means the tide of events could be turned only if the U.S. and other nations fulfil their promises to send more and better weaponry, including rocket systems. “This is an artillery war now,” Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine’s deputy head of military intelligence, told Britain’s Guardian newspaper. “Everything now depends on what (the West) gives us. Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to 15 Russian artillery pieces.” Meanwhile, Germany plans to revise its rules on arms exports to make it easier to aid democracies like Ukraine, according to local media reports. The country is among the largest suppliers of weapons since Russia invaded Ukraine but has been criticised for being slow to supply the heavy weaponry Kyiv says it needs. To the south, the mayor of Mariupol — reduced to ruins by a Russian siege — said sanitation systems were broken and corpses were rotting in the streets. “There is an outbreak of dysentery and cholera,” Vadym Boichenko told national television. “The war which took over 20,000 residents... unfortunately, with these infection outbreaks, will claim thousands more Mariupolites,” he said, adding some wells had been contaminated by corpses. Further, the mayor also called on the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to establish a humanitarian corridor to allow remaining residents to leave the city, which is now under Russian control. In Brief Health experts have said that the sudden increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country over the last few days should not be a cause for panic and no new variant of concern has been found while the spike is limited only to a few districts. Non-adherence of COVID-appropriate behaviour and people being unenthusiastic about getting the booster dose possibly increased the pool of population susceptible to the infection, they said. The infections could also have been due to the increased mobility in summer holidays, easing of travel restrictions both nationally and internationally and full-fledged opening up of economic activities. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow [logo] The Evening Wrap 11 JUNE 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Protests over remarks against the Prophet | Over 250 arrests in Uttar Pradesh; Centre sends advisory to States The [Uttar Pradesh Police arrested as many as 255 people, including Prayagraj-based political activist Javed Mohammad, across seven districts in the State]( for stone-pelting and illegal gathering during the protests after Friday prayers against the comments made on Prophet Muhammad by two Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. Several State leaders of the BJP have endorsed using bulldozers to demolish the properties of those accused. The highest number of arrests were in Prayagraj (68), followed by Saharanpur (64), Hathras (50), Ambedkar Nagar (28), Moradabad (27), Firozabad (13), Aligarh (3) and Jalaun (2). As the State government intensified its crackdown against the Muslim protestors on Saturday, several members of the ruling BJP, including its state president Swatantra Dev Singh, endorsed using bulldozers to demolish the properties of the accused persons. In Prayagraj, where protesters engaged in stone-pelting on police following Friday namaz in Atala area, police said properties of the accused would be demolished on the basis of evidence. Police said Javed Mohammad alias Javed Pump had organised the protest and blamed him for the “conspiracy.” Mr. Mohammad is a member of the federal committee of the Welfare Party of India, headed by S.Q.R. Ilyas, father of jailed former JNU student leader Umar Khalid. [Mrityunjay Kumar, media advisor to U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has tweeted a photo of a bulldozer demolishing a building with a warning, “Unruly elements should remember that every Friday is followed by a Saturday.” Photo: Twitter/@MrityunjayUP] Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry said that the situation is being monitored and [issued an advisory to the States regarding the protests]( particularly after such demonstrations turned violent in some States such as West Bengal and Jharkhand. Similar protests were held in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Telangana and Gujarat. Police could be the target of the protesters, the Ministry warned in its advisory and asked the personnel to wear riot gear. In Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chauhan said [a case has been registered]( under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code on Friday against the protesters and further investigation is underway. The security was heightened in Jharkhan capital Ranchi after [two people succumbed to injuries due to gunshot wounds]( received during the violent protests on Friday. Over two dozen people have been reported injured and internet connection was suspended in the capital city. In Bengal, as violent protests continued to rage for the third day, [State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar was arrested]( while he was on his way to Howrah district. Police tried to dissuade the BJP leader from proceeding to Howrah which has been witnessing violence since Thursday, but he was insistent. There was fresh violence at Panchala in Howrah, where protesters clashed with police. Several shops, a few houses including an ATM were set on fire in Panchala. Violence was also reported from Reginagar in the State’s Murshidabad district where a mob pelted stones and set some installations on fire later in the evening. Presidential election | Mamata calls meeting of Opposition leaders, CMs With the presidential election around the corner, West Bengal Chief Minister [Mamata Banerjee has written to Opposition leaders]( requesting them to attend a meeting on June 15 convened by her in New Delhi to prepare a joint strategy. “Our hon’ble chairperson @MamataOfficial calls upon all progressive opposition forces to meet and deliberate on the future course of action keeping the Presidential elections in sight, at the Constitution Club, New Delhi on June 15 2022 at 3 PM,” the Trinamool Congress tweeted. The Bengal CM has reached out to her counterparts in Opposition-ruled States and other leaders to participate in the joint meeting in Delhi. IAEA abstention on Iran in line with India’s Russia, non-alignment policy India’s abstention vote during an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors meeting this week is being seen as a significant show of support for Tehran, and [a reassertion of its “non-aligned” stance]( as seen on its policy on Russia and the war in Ukraine. Along with Pakistan and Libya, India, on Wednesday, was one of the three countries who abstained from the resolution criticising Iran for flouting IAEA requests for inspections of its nuclear programme and other processes. Of the 35-nation Board of Governors of the IAEA, 30 countries voted for the resolution brought by US and “E-3” nations U.K., Germany and France, while Russia and China voted against it. Notably, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian began an official visit to India on Wednesday, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. While the Ministry of External Affairs made no mention of their talks on the IAEA meeting and resolution explicitly, an official statement said that Mr. Abdollahian “briefed the External Affairs Minister on the current situation pertaining to the JCPOA,” referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on nuclear issues agreed to by Iran in 2015. The MEA declined to comment on India’s decision to abstain from the vote, much as it did on the vote against Russia on March 3 for the war in Ukraine. As tensions rise, India’s decision not to go with the U.S. and European countries, is seen as a vote in support of Iran and a reassertion of India’s policy of “non-alignment” that has been referred to by the government in the past few weeks. Terror cases | Enforcement Directorate identifies assets worth ₹1,250 crore The [Enforcement Directorate identified properties worth about ₹1,250 crore as proceeds of alleged crimes]( under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after its probe regarding terrorism-related cases. Assets valued at ₹884 crore currently stand attached and others worth ₹98 crore have been confiscated under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA). The ED has taken action with respect to more than 250 properties in different parts of the country and filed 37 prosecution complaints (charge sheets) against the accused persons. [The Enforcement Directorate has so far identified “proceeds of crime” to the tune of ₹1,000 crore in the case involving 27 properties of drug trafficker Iqbal Mirchi, who died in the United Kingdom in 2013. File] The agency has so far identified “proceeds of crime” to the tune of ₹1,000 crore in a case against international drug trafficker Iqbal Mirchi, involving 27 properties. It included a hotel in Dubai, some properties in the United Kingdom, four hotels in Delhi, 15 properties in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra and a cluster of properties in Cyprus Valley. On the agency’s request, the Interpol has issued red notices against Mirchi’s wife Hajra Memon and their sons, Junaid and Asif, who are currently in the United Kingdom. Other high-profile cases include those against fugitive Zakir Naik and associated entities, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and others, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah, Pakistan-based Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, and cases against the terror outfits operating in the northeastern States, including NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K). Ukraine pleads for more weapons, cholera spreads in Mariupol Ukraine, now under heavy pounding from Russia in its eastern regions, [appealed to the West for faster deliveries of weapons and for humanitarian support]( to combat growing outbreaks of deadly diseases. The appeal came as Sievierodonetsk, the small city that has become the focus of Russia’s advance in eastern Ukraine and one of the bloodiest flashpoints in a war well into its fourth month, witnessed further heavy fighting according to reports. The war in the east, where Russia is focussing its attention, is now primarily an artillery battle in which Kyiv is severely outgunned, Ukrainian officials say. That means the tide of events could be turned only if the U.S. and other nations fulfil their promises to send more and better weaponry, including rocket systems. “This is an artillery war now,” Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine’s deputy head of military intelligence, told Britain’s Guardian newspaper. “Everything now depends on what (the West) gives us. Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to 15 Russian artillery pieces.” Meanwhile, Germany plans to revise its rules on arms exports to make it easier to aid democracies like Ukraine, according to local media reports. The country is among the largest suppliers of weapons since Russia invaded Ukraine but has been criticised for being slow to supply the heavy weaponry Kyiv says it needs. To the south, the mayor of Mariupol — reduced to ruins by a Russian siege — said sanitation systems were broken and corpses were rotting in the streets. “There is an outbreak of dysentery and cholera,” Vadym Boichenko told national television. “The war which took over 20,000 residents ... unfortunately, with these infection outbreaks, will claim thousands more Mariupolites,” he said, adding some wells had been contaminated by corpses. Further, the mayor also called on the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to establish a humanitarian corridor to allow remaining residents to leave the city, which is now under Russian control. In Brief Health experts have said that the sudden increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country over the last few days [should not be a cause for panic and no new variant of concern has been found]( while the spike is limited only to a few districts. Non-adherence of COVID-appropriate behaviour and people being unenthusiastic about getting the booster dose possibly increased the pool of population susceptible to the infection, they said. The infections could also have been due to the increased mobility in summer holidays, easing of travel restrictions both nationally and internationally and full-fledged opening up of economic activities. 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