The city of Jaipur has been under a seize like situation after curfew was imposed in parts of the city since Friday.
This was a result of a reported full blown conflict between the police and residents of a Muslim-majority Ramganj area. The trouble reportedly started at 8:30 PM when a police constable (during a street vendor clearing drive) allegedly hit a man named Sajid who was travelling on a bike with his family.
According to his wife, they were stopped by the policeman who swung his baton and hit the bike. As a result Sajid was hit on his hand and their young daughter fell from the bike. This resulted in a heated exchange and the family which then reached the Ramganj police station.
According to the Police Commissioner Sanjay Agarwal, the policemen were talking to the couple about this minor scuffle when a crowd suddenly appeared outside the police station. They then started pelting stones and also indulged in arson. The police used tear gas shells and also fired shots in the air to somehow try and disperse the crowd.
In the violence about 4 policemen were injured and one of them was in serious condition. A youth named Mohammad Raees alias Adil passed away at 1 PM on that night and the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind claimed that it was a result of a bullet wound he suffered on his chest though the police made it clear that the cause could only be determined after a postmortem.
Reports also claimed that the protesters burnt an Ambulance, damaged a patrol vehicle and also looted shops. It was also claimed that the police would track the accused via CCTV footage.
In the light of the violence a curfew was imposed in the Manak Chowk, Subhash Chowk, Galta Gate and Ramganj police station areas and internet services were also suspended in the region. This curfew plus internet ban was also extended to Sunday after the Police Commissioner monitored the situation.
One of the reasons why the conflict doesn’t seem to have abated is the inability of the administration to have reached an agreement with the deceased Adil’s family.
The family of the deceased Adil had reportedly demanded a Rs 1 crore ex-gratia from the government and a government job for his relative. They had also demanded the suspension of the entire Ramganj police station staff. The family had also not allowed the postmortem of his body to take place and the police had made it clear that the curfew won’t be lifted until the postmortem has taken place.
The reports have claimed that the talks between Adil’s family and the policemen have remained inconclusive and that Muslim organisations are scheduled to hold a Dharna on Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg on Monday. According to a BJP State President Ashok Pranami, there’s a lack of a decision maker on the Muslims’ side. He also claimed that a demand by the family to have a Muslim doctor on the postmortem board had been accepted and also claimed that the situation was in control.
This bizarre demand to insist upon a Muslim doctor caught attention of a columnist:
Jaipur Police Muslims clash.After death&injury Muslims want Muslim doctor for autopsy.After Personal Law Muslims demand Personal Autopsy?/3
— Shubhrastha (@Shubhrastha) September 11, 2017
