Tension escalated on Sunday as Mufti Salman Azhari, a resident of Vikhroli, was apprehended by the Gujarat police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from his residence. He is accused of delivering inflammatory remarks during a speech in Gujarat on January 31.
Prior to his transfer to Gujarat, a crowd, including politicians, gathered outside the Ghatkopar police station where Azhari was held for legal procedures. Chanting Azhari as God’s messenger, they demanded his release, prompting police to use a loudspeaker to appeal for peace.
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The standoff continued into the evening, with the Gujarat police facing difficulties due to the crowd and legal complexities. The officer in charge suggested that an arrest might not be necessary as the charges against Azhari carry a sentence of less than seven years. Azhari is accused of making an inflammatory speech at Narayan Vidya Mandir on January 31, resulting in an FIR filed by the Gujarat police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Azhari, who claimed to be surrounded by police since the early hours, was taken to Ghatkopar police station after his home was entered by officers from Chirag Nagar police station, Mumbai ATS, and Gujarat ATS. A significant crowd gathered outside, demanding his release, representing areas like Govandi, Chembur, Sakinaka, Vikhroli, Cheetah Camp, and Malad.
During the demonstration, Muhammad Talha, a 26-year-old mobile accessory businessman from Govandi, expressed faith in Azhari’s work for Allah and called for his release. The crowd grew to about a thousand people, blocking the police station entrance and nearby road. Azhari, through a loudspeaker, urged the crowd not to break the law and disperse. Concerns arose about his safety if taken to Gujarat, leading to a sizable following expressing fears of his capture.
To manage the crowd, approximately 200 members of the State Book Police Force were deployed. After a warning period, mild force was used to disperse the crowd around 10:45 p.m. when they became hostile and obstructed a bus on the road, according to officials.
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