Teen's controversial post on social media triggers mob attack, vehicle burnt; Corporator Shahnawaz Hussain among those held
Tension prevailed in Trombay on Sunday after a morphed image uploaded on social media by a teenager hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community. Hours after the teenager (name withheld) was arrested, a mob launched an attack outside Trombay police station by pelting stones at police personnel, setting a police van on fire and damaging other police vehicles.
The Trombay police have arrested 17 people, including AIMIM Corporator Shahnawaz Hussain of Ward 145 (Cheetah Camp), on charges of attempt to murder, rioting and damaging public property. About 15 policemen were injured in the riot.
Police said the teenager, a contractual sweeper with the Navi Mumbai civic body and a Trombay resident, had allegedly posted a controversial image on his Facebook page.
His friends' sentiments were hurt when they saw the image on the social networking site. The teen's friends proceeded to threaten him, and asked him to remove the image. The frightened teenager then called up Hussain, who was aware about the situation, and apologised for uploading the image.
Despite apologising, about 30 people arrived at the teenager's residence, but could not find him there. Meanwhile, the police learnt about the ruckus near Cheetah Camp and, after further investigation, decided to pick up the teenager from his relative's home in Trombay.
When members of the community learnt that the teenager has been picked up by the police, they, including Hussain, visited the police station around 10 pm on Saturday and demanded that an FIR be registered against him.
The police proceeded to register a case against the teen under section 295 (A) of the Indian Penal Code (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).
Later, at around 1 am on Sunday, a mob of 150 people barged into the police station premises and demanded that the teenager be handed over to them. When the police tried stopping them, they wreaked havoc outside the premises.
Police personnel resorted to lathi charge, released tear gas and fired rubber bullets on the angry mob. Two minors were injured.
"We have registered a case against the attackers. Most of the arrested accused are Hussain's supporters. We are trying to identify other attackers and will arrest them too. Security has been tightened," said Shahaji Umap, Deputy Commissioner of Police (zone VI), adding that the police are probing further to ascertain whether the attack was pre-planned.
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