UP Police Arrests Javed Mohammad, Calls Him 'Mastermind' of Prayagraj Violence

Javed's daughter Afreen Fatima claimed that the UP Police had detained her father without a warrant.

Protests erupted across the country on Friday demanding the demanding arrest of Nupur Sharma.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday, 11 June, arrested Javed Mohammad – an activist associated with the Welfare Party of India – in connection with the protests that erupted in Prayagraj after Friday prayers.

A total of 237 people have been arrested from several cities which saw protests and violence as people took to the streets demanding arrest of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

Prayagraj SSP Ajay Kumar told the media on Saturday that Javed is one the "key conspirators" of the violence that erupted.

"He (Javed) was propagating bharat bandh, gave call to assemble in Atala area in the city," he said.

Among others who have been arrested are AIMIM district president Shah Alam, Left leader Ashish Mittal and anti-CAA activist Zeshan Rehamni.

'My Father Was Detained Without A Warrant'

The general secretary of the Welfare Party of India, Javed Mohammad was taken into custody by the UP Police late last night, along with his wife Parveen and daughter Sumaiya.

His other daughter Afreen Fatima, in a video, has claimed that the Prayagraj Police came without a warrant or an official letter and detained her father.

"They have not disclosed where they have taken him. I do not know where my father is right now," she said.

Fatima added that the police came to her house again post-midnight and detained her mother, who is a diabetic patient, and her 19-year-old sister.

"Around 2:30 am the police again gathered at our house and tried to detain me and my sister-in-law. When we resisted and said that we will not go with them, they tried to intimidate us and harass us in every way possible," she said, adding that a lot of Muslim activists like her father were being harassed across the city.

Protests were seen in several parts of the country, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Telangana on Friday, over the remarks made against the Prophet.

Protests in these states were largely peaceful, however, violence ensued in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, Howrah in West Bengal, Jharkhand's Ranchi, and parts of Jammu and Kashmir.