Mumbai violence like terror attack, top cop says
MUMBAI: Two days after an unexpected outbreak of violence left the city numb, the Mumbai police on Monday fast-tracked the investigation by equating it with a terror attack and forming a special investigation team (SIT) to identify the elements behind the attack. "We are handling the investigation into Saturday's violence as the equivalent of a terror attack probe. That is the reason why we have set up an SIT," Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik said.
State home minister R R Patil indicated that the government was keeping all options open when it comes to taking action against Raza Academy, one of the organizers of the protest rally. "The course of action will be decided after the police complete the probe," Patil said when asked if the government was contemplating a ban on Raza Academy.
Two persons were killed and 63 injured, including 58 policemen, when a mob went on the rampage near CST during a protest rally called by five Sunni Muslim groups against the attacks on the community in Assam and Myanmar.
"Those with criminal background participated in the rally. These anti-social elements actually instigated the violence. All angles, including the possible involvement of the underworld, are being examined," Patil said.
Even as Patnaik said the 10-member SIT team was scanning CCTV footage to identify the main culprits of Saturday's violence,
He said the police have a watertight case against the rioters. "Usually, in riot cases there is no proof. But in this case, police have CCTV footage, clippings from television channels and still pictures taken by photographers. The department will ensure that no innocent is booked in the riot case but at the same time will see to it that all culprits are put behind bars," Patil said.
Police have arrested 23 people in connection with the violence and booked them for attempt to murder, rioting, molestation, stealing police weapons and assaulting policemen. Two self-loading rifles (SLRs) of the police, a service pistol of an inspector and 150 rounds of ammunition were snatched from the cops. Police have recovered two SLRs and 29 rounds of ammunition.
Police officials maintained that it was a planned attack and said that those who committed wanton acts of destruction were professionals and may have been aided by underworld elements. Police have recovered cans of fuels, swords, iron rods, motorcycle batteries and sharp objects, which point to the violence being planned by professionals.
"The SIT is also is scanning the sources of the text messages that were circulated among the members of the community," Patnaik said.
Officials from the chief minister's office said the crime branch has also been asked to probe whether bulk and group SMSs containing provocative text messages were circulated from outside the state or foreign destinations to instigate violent protests.
Joint commissioner of police (crime) Himanshu Roy said they would record the statements of "each and every one" involved in the case. "But prior to that we are going through various CCTV footage to find out whether there were any inflammatory speeches that led to the violence," he said.
Meanwhile, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan urged community groups to work towards maintaining peace and foil attempts to disturb the tranquility of the city and the state. "The reasons behind the mob turning violent are yet to be unearthed," Chavan told a delegation of newspersons who had called upon him to highlight the attack on media personnel.
(With inputs from Sandeep Ashar)
AB AYEGA MAJAA.find and kill these b@stards . encounter them on the road.
Mumbai violence like terror attack, top cop says - The Times of India
