Kanpur Violence: 29 people, including local Muslim leader Hayat Zafar Hashmi, arrested

Police have so far arrested 29 people who were allegedly involved in the violence that erupted in the Kanpur’s Parade Chowk area on Friday, June 3. The local Muslim leader, Hayat Zafar Hashmi, was declared the main conspirator behind the violence.

Hayat Zafar Hashmi, a national president of the Maulana Muhammad Jauhar Ali Fans Association, was the one who had called for the shutting down of the market to protest the remarks made about Prophet Mohammed by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

Police said that Hashmi incited people to pelt stones and led to clashes between two groups. Around 39 people, including police personnel, were injured due to the violence. Hashmi has been detained and is being questioned regarding the violence.

"Documents related to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Campus Front of India (CFI) were also found during searches at the premises of Zafar Hayat Hashmi," said the Kanpur Police Commissioner,

Police official further stated, “all arrests till now are based on photographic and video evidence from the scene of the riots. If there is any laxity on the part of the police officers, action will be taken accordingly."