Cartoon row: Mob disrupts traffic, pelts stones

Cartoon row: Mob disrupts traffic, pelts stones
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The raging controversy over the cartoons published by a Danish newspaper reached Bangalore on Friday, disrupting traffic as processions were taken out and protests held in several areas.

There were no untoward incidents, barring stone pelting at a few places. Shops and commercial establishments run by the Muslim community remained closed for the day.

The protests began after a call given by the Jamea-Musalmanaan-e-Shahar-e-Bangalore.

A large group congregated at the Town Hall square in the evening and set fire to an effigy in the middle of the road. Traffic had to be diverted for some time till the protesters moved on.

There were traffic snarls on MG Road, Residency Road, at Anil Kumble Circle and Hudson Circle, Richmond Road and other areas as hundreds of people from all over the city walked towards Shivajinagar, to converge at the Shivajinagar play ground.

The protesters squatted at important junctions enroute, throwing traffic out of gear even as the police tried hard to divert vehicles.

Traffic moved at snail’s pace in the heart of the city between 3 pm and 5 pm when the processions were taken out. A few hundred people were also ferried in lorries to the venue.

Unruly youngsters also threw stones at a few buildings and the police had to chase them away. Platoons of reserve police were posted at the main roads.

A public meeting was held at around 6.30 pm under the leadership of Maulana Mufti Mohammed Ashraf Ali Sahib, the administrator of Dar-ul-Uloom Sabeelur Rashad. Police top brass were at the Jakkur air field where the Art of Living silver jubilee celebrations were being held at the same time.

‘‘There were no untoward incidents,’’ Additional Commissioner (Law & Order) H.C. Kishore Chandra told this website’s newspaper.