NEW DELHI: The authorities in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have booked five Muslims under draconian laws for taking part in the protest demonstrations in Beckonganj area of Kanpur city against derogatory remarks by BJP leader Nupur Sharma about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), last month.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the authorities slapped Hayat Zafar Hashmi with National Security Act (NSA) and Mukhtar Ahmad Baba, Haji Muhammad Wasi, Akeel Khichdi and Shafiq with the Gangsters Act, in a case registered over protests against the blasphemer Nupur Sharma on June 3.
Hayat Zafar Hashmi is the chief of a local charity organization Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Fans Association. Haji Muhammad Wasi is a city-based realtor while Mukhtar Ahmad Baba is the owner of city-based restaurant chain Baba Biryani. Both of them have been accused of financing the protests.
The Kanpur police have registered three FIRs in connection with the protests and arrested 60 people so far.
