Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jun 14: Police commissioner N Shashi Kumar held talks with Muslim religious leaders of the city in the wake of messages going viral on social media of holding protests in the city in similar manner to the protests that are being held all over the country against the derogatory statement given by BJP spokesperson on Prophet Mohammed.
Speaking to reporter after the meeting, Shashi Kumar said, “Messages in some social media groups said that protests similar to those held all over the country need to take place in Mangaluru also. Some Muslim leaders had expressed concern over this. So the meeting was called. Around 60 leaders participated in the meeting and assured of full cooperation to maintain peace and harmony.
“The Police department is aware of miscreants giving wrong information to the community sitting at a distant place with the intention of provoking the religious sentiments. Action is already taken against many. No one should listen to this rumours,” he said.
Muslim religious leaders clarified that no discussion with regards to holding protests in the city were held during the meeting.
Shashi Kumar further said, “These kinds of meetings are being held regularly at police station levels and zone levels. Religious leaders have requested to hold such meetings frequently. The process of setting up youth committees at station levels has already begun. Contact will be kept with all communities in the society.”
Muslim religious leader B A Mumtaz Ali said, “Our faith in administration is increased as the city police commissioner called meeting and discussed the matter with us. We have suggested him to call meeting of both communities. We also assured the commissioner of our fullest cooperation to maintain peace and harmony in the district.”
“Peace meetings of this nature were held in the past also. We are happy that the police have taken the leaders of Muslim community into confidence in this matter,” said Hyder Parthipadi.
Leader Abdul Hamid said, “Due to the developments that have taken place of late, Muslim community is concerned as well as chaos are created in society. The action taken by the city police commissioner to contain this is appreciable. We will always cooperate to maintain peace and harmony.”
DCP Hariram Shankar, Dinesh Kumar, ACP Geetha, P A Heggade and eminent leaders of various mosques and organizations were present.