500 booked for 'inflammatory songs' in Faizabad

Around 500 persons have been booked here for playing "inflammatory songs" and raising "objectionable slogans" in "Ram Baraat", the procession celebrating the return of Lord Ram from exile to Ayodhya.

Faizabad (UP), Oct 17: Around 500 persons have been booked here for playing "inflammatory songs" and raising "objectionable slogans" in "Ram Baraat", the procession celebrating the return of Lord Ram from exile to Ayodhya.

According to police sources, the procession lead by prominent right-wing party leaders and its associate organisations on October 15 passed through Galla Mandi, a sensitive area inhabited by both communities in equal ratio, and started playing inflammatory songs from loudspeakers.

Sources said police tried to stop the people in the procession for playing inflammatory songs but they didn't budge. The continuous playing of the songs lea to the communal tension in the area, they said.

Talking to PTI, SP City Sankalp Sharma said cases have been registered against 500 unidentified persons who were in the procession for trying to "communalise the atmosphere" under sections of 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of IPC.

A couple of incidents of communal flare-up between the two communities were seen during the Durga Puja celebrations in the city as well.

Faizabad had witnessed communal riots in 2012 which claimed two lives and more than hundred shops and houses were torched by rioters.

The administration is extra cautious of any communal disturbance keeping in view the forth coming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

PTI