Loudspeaker politics: Sec 144 imposed in Moradabad

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The News Minute | July 25, 2014 | 01:33 pm IST Section 144 has been imposed in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, following Vishwa Hindu Parishadâ€™s (VHP) plan of a â€˜Jal Abhishekâ€™ march at a temple in Kanth in Moradabad. This step was also taken keeping in mind the BJPâ€™s plan hold a state wide protest on July 26; the BJP wants an FIR registered against the Moradabad SSP for allegedly assaulting the partyâ€™s workers on July 4 in Kanth. The Congress too had decided to go on a peace march in Kanth on the same day. BJP leader Sadvi Prachi, who was on her way to take part in the â€˜Jal Abhishekâ€™ march, was detained along with 10 others in Bijnor on Friday morning. Prachi is also one of the accused for allegedly inciting the Muzzafarnagar riots. Security has also been beefed up in areas adjoining Moradabad to prevent any unwanted law and order situation. The Section will remain imposed in the area till August 4, said District Magistrate Deepak Agarwal. A report in IBN quotes Agarwal as saying, "Heavy security force has been deployed in Moradabad and sector magistrates have been alerted. We are taking all precautions." On July 4, in Moradabadâ€™s Akbarpur Village, a Muslim dominated area, clashes broke out over the installation of a loud speaker in a temple in the village. The loudspeaker was gifted to the temple by a BJP leader. The Muslim community was against the installation of the loudspeaker during that time because of Ramzan. However, the Jatavs (Dalits) went ahead and installed the loudspeaker. The Muslim community protested and it eventually led to the taking down of the loudspeaker by the district administration. The Jatavs reciprocated by protesting against what they felt was discrimination against them. They even claimed that the temple had a loudspeaker for the past 15 years and the new one was just a replacement for the old, states a report in Zee News. The BJP workers then called a mahapanchayat to protest the removal of the loudspeaker which led to a clash between the party workers and police, further escalating communal tensions. According to media reports, loudspeakers happen to be a cause of communal tension in many of those areas, with similar such incidences having taken place in the past as well, even causing a fatality in 2010. Loudspeakers are used in mosques as well. Read Hindustan Times' report: Communalism aloud: how loudspeakers spark hate in UP The VHP has demanded the re-installation of the loudspeaker. They also wish to perform a puja in the temple. Section 144 of IPC states, Joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon.â€”Whoever, being armed with any deadly weapon, or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, is a member of an unlawful assembly, shall be punished with imprison-ment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

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