Masjid demolition anniversary
Violence in Kerala, Karnataka

NEW DELHI, Dec 6 (PTI, UNI) — Stray violence marred parts of Kerala and Karnataka and paramilitary personnel staged flag march in Pondicherry while more than 2,000 protesters were arrested across the country on the sixth anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid today.

Demonstrations, hoisting of black flags, rallies and meetings marked the day as security forces deployed in strength maintained vigil at places of worship and vital installations. About 500 persons, including 40 Shiv Sainiks, were arrested for violating prohibitory orders in Ayodhya, the site of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid complex, and Varanasi, while the day passed off peacefully in other parts of Uttar Pradesh.

NEW DELHI: Activists of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference holding a dharna in New Delhi on Sunday on the anniversary of the demolitionm of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. — PTI

No untoward incident was reported from the twin towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad and Mathura as RAF and PAC personnel guarded shrines and maintained law and order in communally sensitive areas of the state.

In Kerala, stones were hurled at state-owned and private buses in Kottayam district, dominated by members of a particular community. More than 330 demonstrators were arrested in the state, while in neighbouring Pondicherry CRPF personnel marched through the town and its adjoining areas to instil confidence among the people. In Karnataka, stones were hurled at shops in Hubli district.

More than 1,000 members of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) were held for violating prohibitory orders by trying to take out a procession to picket Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s residence in Chennai in protest against what they called the state government’s "anti-Muslim" attitude, the police said in Chennai.

In Cuddalore, about 335 volunteers of Dalit Panthers were taken in custody when they tried to defy prohibitory orders.

Personnel from paramilitary forces, home guards and Rapid Action Force (RAF) were assisting the police in maintaining vigil in different parts of Tamil Nadu.

TNS adds: A series of demonstrations were held in the Capital on Sunday to condemn the demolition of the structure at the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on this day in 1992.

The protests were mainly organised in Old Delhi, where placards against the incident were put up at several places. The demonstrators demanded that the culprits of the demolition should be speedily brought to book.

Several Muslim organisations, including the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, Babri Masjid Movement Coordination Committee and All-India Babri Masjid Action Committee condemned the incident.

They cautioned against long-term objectives and short-term plans of the forces of ‘Hindu chauvinism, fascism and fundamentalism which have gained strength and become active’.

At a seminar in the Capital, the speakers took note of the proposed talk to ‘re-enact Ayodhya tragedy’ at Mathura and Varanasi. They sought adequate protection from the government for the structures at these places.

The CPI (ML) observed the day as a ‘protest day against fundamentalism and fascism’.

The Shiv Sena, which was ‘behind’ the attack at a movie theatre in Delhi where movie ‘Fire’ was being screened, also staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

Shiv Sainiks alleged that the BJP government was ‘running away’ from its duties of construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

LUCKNOW (agencies): Regular darshan continued peacefully at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya, while about 150 kar sewaks had assembled at Kar Sewa Puram to participate in the ‘Virat Hindu Sammelan’ organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Leaders of the VHP Ashok Singhal and Mahant Gopal Das along with 3000 VHP activists had assembled in Goverdhan town, 20 km from Mathura, to participate in ‘sapta-kosi parikrama’.

The state government had deployed 120 companies of the PAC and 12 companies of the RAF in and around the three shrines and the sensitive districts to maintain law and order.

People went about their Sunday chores with markets doing business despite calls for observing the day as Kalank Divas (Black Day) by the Samajwadi Party and Shaurya Divas (Victory Day) by the VHP.

Muslim leaders led by the Samajwadi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Mohd Azam Khan, and convenor of the All-India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) Mr Zafaryab Jilani, were among those who attended special prayers at Tehri Bazaar mosque here.

Activists of the Samajwadi Party staged a dharna at Gandhi Park in Faizabad. They were led by Mr Mitra Sen Yadav, MP, and the party’s national secretary, Mr Awdhesh Prasad.

Mahant Avaidyanath, head of Rama Janmabhoomi Yagna Samiti addressed a VHP-sponsored meeting of kar sewaks at Kar Sewak Puram.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amidst unprecedented security, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid’s demolition passed off without any major incident in Kerala.

Barring a few incidents of stone throwing at buses, the day was almost peaceful and the strike called by the People’s Democratic Party evoked poor response in the state, the police said.

Incidents of stone pelting at state transport buses were reported from Kayamkulam, Muvattupuzha, Kanjirampalli and Kanhangad.

CHENNAI: Barring the arrest of nearly 750 TMMK volunteers in the city who made a vain bid to besiege the residence of the Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu remained peaceful.

The TMMK volunteers raised slogans at the busy Mount Road, denouncing the government for what it called its ‘anti-Muslim’ policies. They were whisked away before carrying out their plan. The picketing programme was also in protest against the government’s denial of permission to hold a rally in Madurai on this day.

A TMMK press note issued on Sunday evening claimed that over 5000 persons were arrested in different parts of the city, including 4000 in Mount Road.

Tamil film actor Mansur Ali Khan and 10 members of his family and close friends were arrested in the Nungambakkam area of the city when they tried to undertake a fast.

BANGALORE: Barring stray incidents in the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad, the sixth anniversary of the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya passed off peacefully in Karnataka.

A report quoting from Hubli Police Commissioner B.G. Kokatnur said a group of people attacked a liquor shop owner near Nehru Stadium, but he escaped with minor injuries.

The attackers ran away on seeing a police patrol party but one of them was nabbed.

Kokatnur said some people tried to close shops forcibly in old Hubli and other areas, while some urchins pelted stones at shops. However, police intervened and did not allow the situation to go out of hand.

Reports of the Babri mosque demolition anniversary passing off peacefully were received from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Mumbai, which was the scene of large-scale riots in the aftermath of the demolition and serial blasts, was peaceful. Muslim organisations observed a Black Day in various parts of these states.