Police say action against minors in Prayagraj protest will be reconsidered 

Arrest only of persons who ‘were actually involved’ in violent protests, ‘those who are hard core criminals’

Police on Tuesday said they could take a more relaxed approach against minors accused of violence during a protest last Friday in Prayagraj against comments on the Prophet Muhammad made by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson. No innocent person will be arrested, Senior Superintendent of Police-Prayagraj, Ajay Kumar said.

Mr. Kumar said they were only arresting or would arrest persons who “were actually involved” in the violent protest, “those who are hard core criminals”.

Meanwhile, the number of persons arrested by the police across the State in connection with the protests climbed to 350. The highest number of arrests was in Prayagraj (92), followed by Saharanpur (84).

Among those taken into custody in Prayagraj were four minors. In the first information reports (FIR) lodged in the Prayagraj incident of June 10, when protestors pelted stones at police personnel, the police alleged the mob deployed minor boys for sloganeering and throwing stones at them.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr. Kumar said while the police would not spare those who “planned the conspiracy and instigated” the young boys, they could reconsider the action against minors.

“Those who were instigated or are minors, we will consider about them. If they are not of bad nature, then we will give it a thought, consider it and take a decision,” the officer said.

The FIRs related to the matter include evocation of Section 83 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 which is related to using children for illegal or militant activities.