Two dead and dozens injured during protests against insulting the Prophet Muhammad in India
At least two people were victims of clashes in the Indian city of Ranchi (Jharkhand state) during the past day, due to controversial statements by two representatives of the ruling Indian People’s Party (Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP) about the Prophet Muhammad.
According to NDTV, ten people were injured during these clashes. Against the background of these events, a curfew was imposed in several regions of the state.
The riots began after Friday prayers. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of party spokesman Nopura Sharma on charges of blasphemy.
Protests also swept New Delhi, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Saharanpur and other cities.
Police have beefed up security in Kanpur, Lucknow and Firozabad. The authorities of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have decided to shut down the internet in a number of cities, and a curfew has been imposed in some areas.
The scandal in India stems from remarks made by BJP spokesperson Sharma during a debate on national television last week. Because of his words, protests began in India, and many Muslim countries expressed their anger, including the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan.
Sharma was suspended, and a member of the party’s youth wing, Harshit Srivastava, was arrested for tweets about the Prophet Muhammad, which were also viewed by believers as an insult.
