SIT to probe Mumbai violence

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up to probe the sudden violence that broke out near Mumbai's Azad Maidan on Saturday afternoon, during a protest rally organised by some local outfits to protest against attacks on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar.

Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik, who along with Maharashtra home minister R R Patil is under fire from opposition parties for their alleged failure to maintain law and order in the city, told reporters that a magisterial inquiry had also been ordered to probe the police firing. Two persons were killed and more than 50 injured in the violence that flared at the end of the rally.

Vandals attacked several police vehicles, outdoor broadcating vans of television networks and BEST buses, besides assaulting cameramen and photographers. The police have arrested nearly two-dozen people on charges of rioting and molesting women constables.

The Raza Academy, a city-based organisation, held the rally at Azad Maidan to protest the attacks on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar. However, some participants allegedly made provocative speeches and unidentified elements also distributed photographs of scenes of violence in Assam. The speakers criticised the media for not highlighting the attacks on Muslims and were also critical of the police.

As soon as the rally got over, scores of hooligans began attacking police vehicles and OB vans and setting them on fire. They also attacked BEST buses, both outside Azad Maidan and on the road opposite the busy CST station.

Patnaik claimed that the police had intelligence inputs about the possibility of trouble breaking out at the rally. He said the fact that the force had deployed a joint commissioner, an additional commissioner, four deputy commissioners and 700 other personnel indicated that there were lapses on the part of Mumbai police.