Video helps nail 19 more for SoBo riot Seven of the arrested suspects have criminal records, says crime branch

Video helps nail 19 more for SoBo riot

Seven of the arrested suspects have criminal records, says crime branch

The Mumbai crime branch is working overtime to book all those involved in the violence at Azad Maidan on August 11. In the last two days, crime branch officials have arrested 19 more persons in connection with the Azad Maidan riot, taking the total number of arrests to 43. “The men have been arrested after we have closely scrutinised the video clippings of the riot. On the basis of the electronic evidence and after being doubly sure, we have made the arrests,” said Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police (crime). All the 19 arrested suspects are from Kurla, Malwani, Govandi and Wadala. And, at least seven of them have criminal records. On August 11, Raza Academy and groups belonging to the Barelvi sect organised a rally at Azad Maidan to denounce violence against Muslims in Myanmar and Assam. But the peaceful rally was disturbed by a group of men who went on the rampage, torching OB vans, damaging vehicles, looting police weapons and molesting policewomen. Two people were killed in firing while several, including 44 policemen, were injured. On Wednesday, Niyammuddin Shaikh, 28, and Mohamed Hussain Kamruddin Ansari, 21, were arrested from Wadala and Kurla respectively. They were produced in the Esplanade court and remanded in crime branch custody for seven days. The remaining 17 will be produced in court on Thursday. Sources said there are video clippings of the arrested suspects actively participating in the riot, but it is yet to be ascertained if they were also the ones who had molested policewomen. An identification parade will be conducted with the victims. The crime branch is also probing if inflammatory speeches were given on the ground. Out of the five speakers who gave speeches in Azad Maidan on August 11, the police have questioned Saeed Noori and Maulana Niyamat Noori. The latter was the first one to speak on the dais and his speech appeared to be “aggressive”. However, legal opinion is being sought to ascertain whether it contained inflammatory content. Meanwhile, crime branch officials said around 69 bikes are still parked at Azad Maidan. “People should come forward to claim their bikes. We will obviously scrutinize them, but if they are not guilty they should not fear any action,” added Roy.