Prayagraj (UP): The Allahabad High Court has directed the Central and the state governments to file counter-affidavits on a petition that sought the release of a man who was booked under the National Security Act (NSA). It was said that the man Javed Mohammed was involved in an incident of violence that broke out in various parts of Uttar Pradesh in June after an alleged derogatory statement against the Prophet.
A bench of the high court comprising Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Surendra Singh heard the lawyers of Javed Mohammad. He was arrested on June 11 this year after the protest of June 10. Besides arresting him, the district administration bulldozed his house.
The bench said, “All the respondents may file a counter-affidavit within four weeks. The petitioner shall have one week thereafter to file a rejoinder affidavit.”
According to reports, the police took Javed into custody for allegedly instigating the protesters in Atala locality of Prayagraj. The protests broke out after BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma made a derogatory remark against the Prophet. After his arrest, the district magistrate slapped the NSA on Javed who, it was believed, was the brain behind the protests in the Kareli area of Prayagraj.
The administration also demolished his house reportedly owned by his wife Fatima. Javed constructed the house without the permission of the Prayagraj Development Authority.
