New Delhi: Two days after members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) staged a protest in Gurugram demanding strict punishment for the accused in the murder of a tailor, Kanhaiya Lal, in Udaipur, Gurugram Police has booked the organisers of the rally for allegedly raising abusive slogans and promoting enmity between communities.

According to police, on Wednesday, June 29, at least 80 people had assembled at Gurugram's Nehru Park around 5 pm and marched towards Sadar Bazar before dispersing at Harish Bakery chowk. The protesters had also burnt an effigy of ‘Islamic Jihad terrorism’, the Indian Express has reported.

In purported videos emerged of the rally, protesters are heard raising provocative slogans against the Muslim community near Jama Masjid. The protesters also shouted ‘desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko (shoot the traitors)’. The rally did have police permission with condition that the protest will ensure the maintenance of law and order.

The first information report (FIR) lodged at the City Police Station was based on videos shared on social media after police had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident.

"The FIR was registered on the basis of videos shared on social media and some Youtube channels. We are verifying the facts, and action will be taken as per the law," said Deepak Saharan, DCP (West).

According to the Gurugram Police's official statement, the case was lodged under Sections 116, 153A (promotion enmity between different communities on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings of any class, by insulting religious beliefs), 34 (common intention) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Subhash Boken, spokesperson of the Gurugram Police told Indian Express, "During this rally/procession, slogans were raised by using abusive language against a particular community. Taking action in this regard, an FIR has been registered against organisers and others who had raised slogans in the rally."

Kanhaiya Lal was killed on June 28 afternoon by two cleaver-wielding men, who posted a grisly video of the crime online claiming responsibility for the beheading.

(With PTI inputs)

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