The Mumbai Police have arrested two of five men booked for allegedly sending “false, misleading and inflammatory” messages on social media regarding a “minor” clash in Malad East early on Sunday night.

An FIR was registered late on Monday in connection with a message being circulated on WhatsApp since Monday morning and later also posted on Facebook. In Hindi, the message claimed that a clash occurred at Pathanwadi in Malad around 11 pm on Sunday between members of Hindu and Muslim communities while a Ganesh procession was on its way. It went on to say the clash led to communal tension in the area and the matter was being suppressed.

“The message was false, totally misleading and potentially inflammatory,” said Kirankumar Chavan, Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police. To counter it, Mumbai Police Monday circulated their own message on various social media platforms: “A false message is seen to be circulated regarding Pathanwadi, Malad (East). No such incident has taken place. An offence has been registered by Mumbai Police against persons for spreading communal hatred and rumour mongering on social media. Citizens are requested not to believe rumours and rumour mongers.”

Police have identified the accused as Ishwar Das, Chandrapal Prajapati, Vijay Vanjara, Bhushan Jadhav, Atul Fadtare and others.

According to Mumbai Police spokesperson Ashok Dudhe, Das and Vanjara have been arrested, while the rest are yet to be held.

On the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, groups of youth had a confrontation that resulted in a scuffle. “The Muslim youths objected to a few devotees playing religious instruments while passing Pathanwadi bridge. A heated argument took place but soon was defused,” said Subhash Vele, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Samta Nagar Division).

Ramchandra Jawalkar, Divisional Assistant Police Commissioner (Dindoshi), claimed that following the Kurar case, a group of Hindus protested and demanded stricter action, and 11 people were booked and arrested for rioting near Oberoi mall.

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