Mira Road communal clash: Cops say attackers were not locals

Cops and Rapid Action Force members were posted at Naya Nagar in Mira Road in the wake of the clash. Pic/Hanif Patel

The Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police have learnt that the second clash that occurred at Mira Road, on January 22, was premeditated and that the attackers had carried stones on their two-wheelers and in bags. Most of the attackers had allegedly attended a political leader's rally. While 100 of them proceeded to the police commissioner's office, about 200-300 spread in the area and attacked shops. The stones found at the spot were from Ghodbunder Road, according to the police.

While investigating the recent clashes at Mira Road, the cops also found that the first incident happened due to road rage and a misunderstanding between two communities. So far, the MBVV police have registered 12 FIRs and arrested 28 people from both communities. The situation in the area is peaceful and under control. The MBVV police have restricted all political parties from holding rallies at Naya Nagar.

(Here and right) One of the shops at Shanti Nagar, Mira Road that was targeted by the mob on January 22. Pics/Hanif Patel

A police source told mid-day, "We found out that the first clash occurred due to road rage. While a procession was taking place, a biker carrying a saffron flag and chanting Jai Shree Ram brushed against a woman who was crossing the road. A crowd then gathered. When another biker made a loud sound with his motorcycle, word started spreading that a gun had been fired, leading to a confrontation."

Another source said, "The clash that occurred on January 22 was intentionally caused by a particular political group. The mob attacked shopkeepers with heavy stones that were picked up from the Western Express Highway near Ghodbunder Road. Stones were flung at shops in Shanti Nagar."

Boy with toy

The investigation also revealed that a boy who was seen chanting a religious slogan with a gun was a Std XI student and the weapon was, in fact, a plastic toy purchased by a friend from a local shop. A police officer said, "The boy, who resides with his family, told us that he was only making Instagram reels. In a video, he was seen brandishing a gun and dancing to a song. We released the boy after finding out that the gun was not real."

The MBVV cyber police have also taken down more than 100 viral videos on social media that contain hate messages. Some of them falsely claimed that people who were visiting the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya had been attacked by a mob. The videos had been uploaded from Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Delhi and other parts of the country. Of the 12 FIRs registered so far, five were registered by the Naya Nagar police while their Navghar, Bhayandar and Kashimira counterparters registered one and three each respectively.

200-300
No of attackers who allegedly spread out in the Shanti Nagar area and vandalised and trashed shops

28
No of people arrested so far