The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Cartoons: Muslims in city stage protest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 18, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Cartoons: Muslims in city stage protest

Staff Reporter

Processions taken out in city; traffic affected at many places

ANGUISHED: Muslims taking out a procession in protest against the publication of cartoons of Prophet Muhammed, in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: Traffic was disrupted and tension prevailed in some parts of the city on Friday as Muslims took out processions to protest against the publication of Prophet Muhammed's cartoons in European dailies.

Hundreds of Muslims came in processions from different parts of the city and converged at the Shivajinagar stadium, where a public meeting was held in the evening to condemn the publication of the cartoons.

Shops and business establishments owned by Muslims were closed. The Jumma Masjid Road Traders' Association had given a call for trade bandh. At some places, the protesters were seen forcing the shopkeepers to down shutters.

After the afternoon prayers, people gathered in large numbers near mosques at the City Market, Goripalya, Kadugondanahalli, Devarajeevanahalli, Shivajinagar, R.T. Nagar, J.C. Nagar, Bismillahnagar, Tannery Road and other Muslim dominated areas and set on fire the "effigies of Denmark and the European Union." Traffic was disrupted on J.C. Road, N.R. Road, Nrupatunga Road, Kempe Gowda Road, Kasturba Road, Cubbon Road, near Hudson Circle and Anil Kumble circle. As movement of BMTC buses was affected at Shivajinagar bus terminus for some time, people returning home from work were put to inconvenience.

Religious leaders of the community had given a call for holding a peaceful demonstration at Shivajinagar stadium after the evening prayers. Though processions were not planned, youths from the community started marching in groups towards the stadium since afternoon, a member of the community said.

Security

The police had tightened security in the communally sensitive areas and deployed two platoons at the Shivajinagar stadium.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) H.C. Kishorechandra told The Hindu that no untoward incidents were reported.

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