How MP Police stopped Islamists from starting communal riots in Dhar and Jabalpur

• Whenever the Muslim community takes out the procession for the celebration of the birthday of the prophet, miscreants among the community use this as an opportunity to evoke communal sentiments.
• In Dhar, the miscreants tried to take the procession in a restricted area by altering the route. The police barricades were removed and stones were thrown, which forced them to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. 
• In Jabalpur, the Muslim community tried to take out the procession in the Gohalpur area, and when the police stopped, they threw firecrackers on them.

Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi or Mawlid celebrated as the birthday of Prophet Muhammad is a major festival for the Muslim community around the world, including in India. On this day, the police need to stay vigilant as during the procession, every year some unrequired incidents take place. Whenever the Muslim community takes out the procession for the celebration of the birthday of the prophet, miscreants among the community use this as an opportunity to evoke communal sentiments. Given the fact, the Muslim crowd dominates the streets on the day to carry out religious activity, unlawful activities are often passed off as methods of celebration. Also, the miscreants deliberately try to take the procession in areas that are prohibited for such activities, as if they want to mark it as their territory.

A similar incident happened in three cities of Madhya Pradesh – Dhar, Jabalpur and Barwani – during the procession. In Dhar, the miscreants tried to take the procession in a restricted area by altering the route. The police barricades were removed and stones were thrown, which forced them to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. 

Dhar Superintendent of police Aditya Pratap Singh said, “A case has been registered under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with a deadly weapon), and 353 (use of criminal force to deter public servant from discharging of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified people and organisers. On Sunday evening, the organisers and the district administration held a meeting to finalise the route, but some tried to change it.”

In Jabalpur, the Muslim community tried to take out the procession in the Gohalpur area, and when the police stopped, they threw firecrackers on them. Police used tear-gas and lathi-charged to disperse the mob. Jabalpur superintendent of police Siddharth Bahuguna said, “As many as 30 teargas shells were fired to control the mob. In the attack, six police personnel have been injured. Two separate FIRs are being registered for rioting with a deadly weapon, assaulting a public servant to deter him from discharging his duty and violating the orders duly promulgated by a public servant.”

Six people have been detained, police said. Jabalpur collector Karamveer Sharma said, “Section 144 has been imposed in the city. Now, the situation is under control.”

In the Barwani area, objectionable songs were played during the procession and it resulted in a clash between the Muslim and Hindu communities. Police have detained people from the members of both communities. Barwani superintendent of police Deepak Kumar Shukla said, “Some members of the Muslim community were playing objectionable songs. Locals registered their protest over it. Police asked them to stop, but they didn’t listen. Later, some members of the Hindu community pelted stones at the procession. Muslim community members also retaliated.”

The procession by the Muslim community during festivals is a major headache for the police because they have to prepare in every possible way to stop the communal clashes. The miscreants among the Muslim mob deliberately do things like evoking the police, attacking them, taking the procession in prohibited areas, playing objectionable songs to erupt communal clashes. 

The Madhya Pradesh police must be applauded for its efforts to stop the communal clashes and police across the country deserves our respect and gratitude for ensuring peace despite limited resources and poor pay structure.