Mira Road Communal Violence Update: Police Warn Group Admins Against Forwarding Clash-Related Jokes and Videos

Mumbai, January 24: After the stone-pelting incident in Mumbai's Mira Road, Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar police issued an order on Wednesday asking all group administrators to take note that no forwards, jokes or videos related to clashes should be forwarded on social media to maintain communal harmony.

The police are directed to take action against group administrators if this order is violated. A case was registered at Naya Nagar Police Station regarding the incident that took place on January 21 in the Nayanagar Police Station area of Mira-Bhainder, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate area, said the police. A day after a clash was reported from Mumbai's Mira Road, bulldozers razed illegal structures and encroachments in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road on Tuesday.

Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar Police (MBVV Police ) has issued a note asking all group admins to take note that no forwards, jokes or videos related to clashes should be forwarded on social media to maintain communal harmony. Cops to take action against group admins, if this order…

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2024

"An investigation is going on in the matter and the accused are being arrested based on evidence. The atmosphere is calm in the area and some people are broadcasting different videos about the incident through various media. Due to this, misunderstandings are spreading in the society. However, no offensive text, video, photo, status, etc., which may hurt the religious sentiments of people of any caste religion regarding the incident, which may create law and order problems and disturb social peace, such as offensive information, post, on WhatsApp," the police further said.

"Illegal structures and encroachments were razed by bulldozers in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road where Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha celebrations were stone-pelted. After instructions from the Maharashtra government, action is being taken by the Municipal Corporation with the help of the police," the Maharashtra government said. Meanwhile, three persons were arrested in Mumbai and an FIR was filed against unknown individuals after at least four cases of outraging religious sentiments were filed in the city.

All four incidents were reported on January 22, the same day when the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla was performed in Ayodhya's Ram Temple. In the first incident, a 27-year-old identified as Saud Qureshi was arrested for allegedly insulting the flag of Lord Ram during prayers at the Pimpleshwar temple in Mumbai's Vakola area. The police have registered a case under sections 295, 504, and 506 of the IPC.
In the second case, handled by Govandi Police, a 23-year-old identified as Prithviraj Jogdand who is a resident of Maharashtra's Latur was arrested.

He allegedly posted a provocative status on his mobile, resulting in a case filed under sections 153(A) and 295(A) of the IPC.
Meanwhile, at Bhoiwada Police Station, a 55-year-old man named Mufeez Ahmed was arrested on the accusation of removing a flag with Lord Ram's photo on it from the gate of a society. The flag was allegedly removed by Mufeez Ahmed along with some other individuals, leading to tension in society. A case has been filed against him under sections 153(A), 295(A), 505(2), and 34 of the IPC.

In a separate incident registered in the VP Road area of Mumbai, unidentified individuals reportedly threatened participants of a bike rally in Islampura. The complainant stated that they were warned not to enter the area, with threats of violence if they did. The police registered a case against unknown individuals under sections 506(2), 341, 298, 504, and 34 of the IPC. The Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla at Ram Temple in Ayodhya was held on Monday. The Ram Lalla idol was unveiled at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony after the hour-long rituals in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the ceremony.