Accused hatched conspiracy sitting near mosque: Police on Ram Navami 'violence'

The Mumbai police have found that the accused in the case of stone throwing at a Ram Navami procession in Malad had allegedly hatched the plan while sitting together near a mosque police officers said on MondayMore than 20 people have so far been arrested in connection with the incident that took place in Malwani in Malad on March 30A first information report FIR has been registered against more than 200 people they saidA team of Malwani police probing the case of violence recorded statements of an AntiTerrorism Squad ATS officer and another policeman from the Malwani police station on April 2 an officer saidPolice statementsBoth the police personnel in their statements said that the violence was created by the accused including those arrested and wanted deliberately and intentionally he said ldquoThey sat together near a mosque by violating orders prohibiting unlawful assembly and hatched the conspiracy of the crimerdquo the officer said Accordingly Indian Penal Code Section 120 B punishment of criminal conspiracy was added to the case on April 2 following directions from senior police officers he saidEarlier the police had registered an FIR under various Indian Penal Code sections including 353 assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty 324 voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means 145 unlawful assembly 147 rioting and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police ActAlso read Ram Navami violence Internet services remain suspended prohibitory order still in force in Rishra townA police officer earlier said the tension began on March 30 following disputes over loud DJ music being played in the procession as it was passing through the vicinity of mosques in MalwaniAs per the FIR more than 6000 people had participated in the Ram Navami procession organised by the Bajrang Dal Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations The procession began from Ram Janki temple late in the afternoonPeople objectAround 725 pm as it was moving towards Jama Masjid around 100 to 150 people objected to the high volume of music as namaz was going on in the mosque a police officer earlier saidAs the music volume was not lowered there was some sloganshouting and one of the men who had objected to loud music allegedly hurled a stone at the procession and it hit a participant he said Police personnel deputed for security along the route immediately took the man who had thrown the stone into custody he saidAs per the FIR when the procession was near the Ali Hazrat mosque around 845 pm a mob of 200 to 250 people began to throw stonesAs police tried to bring the situation under control some people in the mob hurled stones at them and manhandled some police personnel the FIR statedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever