Rs 51 cr for cartoonist?s head

THE OUTCRY against the cartoons of Prophet Mohammad took an ugly turn today with Uttar Pradesh Haj Minister Haji Mohammed Yaqoob announcing Rs 51 crore for the head of the Danish lampoonist while violence marred protests in Hyderabad and communal clashes erupted in Muzaffarnagar.

Police had to fire in the air and burst tear gas shells in Muzaffarnagar after members of two communities clashed when protestors were returning from a rally against the cartoons.

At least six persons were injured in the confrontation, Superintendent of Police Devendra Choudhary said adding that PAC and additional police contingents had been deployed in sensitive areas of the town.

In nearby Meerut, UP Haj Minister told a public meeting after Friday prayers that “any person who chops off the head of the cartoonist from Denmak who dared to make a caricature of Mohammad Sahib and bring it to me shall be rewarded Rs 51 crore in cash and given gold equivalent to his weight”.

The UP government on the other hand said it was not contemplating any action against Yaqoob for the inflammatory speech, arguing that it was ‘no offence’ to make such an announcement against someone living in a distant country. “In a democracy, such announcements are made in a normal way. It cannot be said to be a law and order issue,” state Home Secretary Alok Sinha told reporters in Lucknow.

Five persons were injured in Hyderabad where protestors went on a rampage looting shops and attacking a police patrol vehicle. The trouble started after Namaz at Mecca Masjid in the afternoon and soon spread to other areas.
Police used batons near Charminar and Gulzar House while 6 gold and textile shops were looted and some RTC busses were pelted with stones injuring the passengers inside.

In Lucknow, noted Shia scholar Maulana Kalbe Jawwad today gave a call to boycott the US and European products to protest the publication of caricature of Prophet Mohammad. The community should boycott the products made by United States and European countries to register their protest over the issue Jawwad told newspersons.

Report from various parts of the country said Muslims held protest demonstration against the USA, Denmark and other European countries.

The protesters also burnt effigies of US President and other leaders and demanded snapping of all diplomatic relations with Denmark.

In Andhra Pradesh, the violence that began in the Old City this morning, was spreading to several districts of Andhra Pradesh. State Home Minister K Jana Reddy appealed to the people to show restraint. Reddy, who reviewed the situation after the violent incidents, made a statement in the Assembly late this evening that the situation was now under control.

He appealed to leaders and members of all communities to respect the sentiments of other communities in this secular and democratic country