http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/
ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=
TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/08/16&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00402&ViewMode=HTML

Women’s panel takes note of molestation

Nitasha Natu TNN

Mumbai: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken note of a complaint filed by womens’ groups against molestation of female cops during the Azad Maidan rally on Saturday. TOI had reported about traumatized female cops questioning the decision of being sent to rein in a mob of hooligans, when it was known that female protesters rarely turned up for such agitations. 

    “We were extremely concerned after going through reports of deliberate manhandling and molestation of 8-10 policewomen while on regular bandobast duty. Policewomen, as all women in public administrative functions, are particularly vulnerable to such incidents of gender violence. It is necessary for the NCW to not just investigate this complaint but look into the wider issue of the vulnerabilities of women in public spaces and suggest sensitization in this regard,” said Teesta Setalvad, secretary of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP). 

    “We would urge that the NCW conducts an investigation and makes public its recommendations in a time-bound manner. Sensitization of the public on their conduct during protests is a must as also the acknowledgement and assertion that such behaviour cannot be condoned,” Setalvad said. 

    “It is imperative that such instances are not repeated and do not go unnoticed. That the victims were policewomen does not matter at all,” said Sandhya Gokhale of the Forum Against Oppression of Women. Other signatories to the complaint are Awaaz-e-Niswaan, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Sabrang, IIWA (Iqra International Women's Alliance), WRAG (Women's Research and Action Group). 

    The CJP also contributed Rs 51,000 to the Commissioner of Police Welfare Fund towards the injuries suffered by policewomen and men on duty during the Azad Maidan rally.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3765708.ece
THE HINDU
14AUG2012

Morphed images used to garner support, says CJP

Staff Reporter

Teesta Setalvad, greets Police Commissioner for mature handling of situation
A non-governmental organisation on Monday submitted to Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik certain “morphed” images of “atrocities” on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar which were allegedly used to garner public support for the August 11 protest which turned riotous at the city’s Azad Maidan. 

“We have also shared details of the misuse of certain photographs from the Internet claiming that these are about atrocities on Rohingyas in Burma when in fact they belong to different tragedies and protests,” said a press note issued by Citizens for Justice and Peace’ (CJP). 

In the letter to Mr. Patnaik, the CJP has annexed a copy of the blog written by a Pakistani writer Faraz Ahmed on July 19, 2012, with the heading ‘Social media is lying to you about Burma’s Muslim ‘cleansing.”
Drastic manipulation

The blog categorically stated that the images used to incite people are “drastic manipulation.” “These images are false and are only igniting hatred and prejudice in our youth. We need to become more vigilant and aware of the credibility and authenticity of pictures we browse through. It only takes one wrong image to push us over the edge towards extremism,” the blogger has allegedly written, according to the copy annexed by CJP.

Teesta Setalvad, CJP secretary also congratulated the Police Commissioner, saying: “His mature handling of a potentially explosive situation on Saturday did ensure that matters were brought under control. Most of all his immediate presence at the venue within minutes of the situation spiralling out of control, his direct appeal to the protesters and organisers, his reference to the bloodbath of 1992-1993 worked to calm the crowd and draw apologies from many sections of the Muslim community.” 

http://twocircles.net/2012aug13/organizations_lauds_
mumbai_police%E2%80%99s_handling_saturday%E2%80%99s_protest.html

Organizations laud Mumbai Police’s handling of Saturday’s protest

Submitted by admin4 on 13 August 2012 - 8:30pm

Indian Muslim
By TCN News,
Mumbai: Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and some Muslim leaders have praised Mumbai Police mature handling of the protest on Saturday that turned violent.
CJP met the Commissioner of Police Mumbai to express their concern over the fallout of Saturday's violence. His mature handling of a potentially explosive situation on Saturday did ensure that matters were brought under control. Most of all his immediate presence at the venue within minutes of the situation spiraling out of control, his direct appeal to the protesters and organizers, his reference to the bloodbath of 1992-1993 worked to calm the crowd and draw apologies from many sections of the Muslim community.
A delegation consisting of representatives of Muslim NGOs also met the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Mumbai Police Commission Arup Patnaik in separate meetings. Mahmood Daryabadi, M. Burhanuddin Qasmi, Farid Shaikh, Dr. Azimuddin and six others were part of the delegation. The Muslim delegation appreciated police “professionalism in handling the violent mob.” Condemning the incident Muslim leaders appealed to all Mumbaikars to remain calm and watchful.

Teesta Setalvad, Secretary of CJP express her organization’s deep sorrow at the loss of lives on Saturday and also deep regret at the injuries --some serious caused to several police men and women last Saturday. 
CJP Memorandum
August 13, 2012

To
Commissioner of Police
Mumbai
Shri Arup Patnaik
Dear Sir,

As citizens of Mumbai committed to the rule of law and human rights for all, we would like to place on record our appreciation for the manner in which the Mumbai Police under your stewardship handled the potentially explosive situation at Azad Maidan on Saturday. Though better preparedness and bandobast before the protestwould have undoubtedly helped, once violence broke out, the mature and handling by the police without being further provoked by the behavior of the protesters ensured that the situation was brought under control, and that a potentially volatile situation did not spread to other areas. Sir it is critical to ensure that there is no further fallout of Saturday’s violence.

We would also like to condemn of the use of provocative slogans and resort to violence by some of those on the stage and in the crowd assembled to protest, as reported in the media. We strongly condemn the attack on policemen and misbehavior with women police officers as has been also alleged alleged in media reports that must have caused deep anger among the law and order enforcement machinery. The attack on the media is most deplorable, as also the destruction of public property. Any issues that any individual or group has with the media, selective portrayals or biases—if any-- need to be furthered through discussion and dialogue not violence and instigation.

While the right to protest is a democratic right, the duty and responsibility of peaceful protest must lie with not just the authorities but responsibility must also be taken by organizers. (Justice Srikrishna in his report on the 1q992-1993 violence, had, relying on the earlier recommendations of the Justice DP Madon Commission report that were never implemented, recommended that deposits need to be obtained from organizers of protests to ensure that damages for any losses could be recovered from this deposit). We suggest that the Mumbai police immediately apply this recommendation.
There have been reports that some provocative photographs of the situation in Burma were shown or talked of and the appeals to the media made. In this connection we would like to offer the following information. Since mid-June 2012, photographs allegedly depicting the horrific plight of the Rohingyas, who happen to be Muslims of Burma have been widely circulated on the internet. 

Yesterday, after Saturday’s violence, as we were checking the authenticity of these out, we found, that some, though not all of them were actually not of authentic and were altered/morphed on the computer. This information has also been put out by a blogger who appears to be from Pakistan. 

We attach some of these below for your consideration.
We would also like to humbly state that reviving the vibrant and collective effort of the Mohalla Committee—with ordinary citizens not politicians—is critical given that misconceptions and misgivings must have been caused across communities after Saturday’s incident. This is also necessary to ensure that there is no spill over resentment and anger with other, ordinary Muslims following the conduct of a handful of compatriots of the community on Saturday. The month of Ramzan, followed by Eid after which the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi will be both a strain and challenge to the Mumbai police. We hope that under your leadership, maturity and calm governs public behavior, not retaliation by the police or provocation by any other sections of society.
Yours Sincerely,
Teesta Setalvad
Secretary 
Javed Anand
Trustee 
Other trustees:
IM Kadri (President), Nandan Maluste (Vice President),
Arvind Krishnaswamy (Treasurer), Alyque Padamsee, Cyrus Guzder, Anil Dharker, Javed Akhtar, Ghulam Pesh Imam, Rahul Bose, Cedric Prakash

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Cops seek Facebook help to block morphed pics 

14 Aug 2012 Hindustan Times (Mumbai) Debasish Panigrahi debasish.panigrahi@hindustantimes.com

MUMBAI: The Mumbai police have asked social networking site Facebook to block the page containing doctored images of alleged atrocities against Muslims, which resulted in the violence at Azad Maidan on Saturday. 

On Monday, Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police, crime, told HT that they had requested Facebook to trace the IP address used to upload the photographs. “We have also asked them to track the fictitious accounts used to circulate the link,” he said. 
Once the source is established, a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code as well as the Information Technology Act would be registered, Roy said. 
Sources in the Mumbai police crime branch claimed that the images had been uploaded from a Pakistani IP address. 

Also, cellular service providers in the city have been asked to trace the source of the inflammatory text messages that were circulated. “Even the organisers are being questioned to reveal the source of the SMSes,” Roy said. 

Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik, meanwhile, admitted that he had to restrain his men from firing at the crowd as he feared a repeat of the 1992 riots. MUMBAI: Technology, particularly the internet and smart phones, has come as a boon to humankind. But it can also be a bane, if left open to abuse and misuse. That is what seems to have happened in the lead-up to the violence at Azad Maidan. 
According to information gathered from a multitude of sources, events were building up to the violence from weeks beforehand with a series of MMSes and SMSes in circulation about the violence in Burma. 

These visuals were morphed from other events — earthquakes, tsunami deaths and even a Tibetan boy who set himself on fire in New Delhi before the Chinese premier’s visit to India — but passed off as those of Muslims attacked by Buddhists in Burma. 
Teesta Setalvad of the Citizens for Justice and Peace, who submitted a memo to police chief Arup Patnaik against these messages on Monday, says she had been receiving the photographs in her mail for some time. Then she came across a blog by Pakistani blogger Faraz Ahmed on the website of Pakistani newspaper Express Tribune, titled ‘Social media is lying to you about Burma’s Muslim ‘cleansing’,’ (http://bit.ly/Mxwu0S). Ahmed had put together original pictures and those morphed, which were also the ones circulated to young Muslims in Mumbai. 

But, says Mohammad Faruque Azam, president of the National Institute of Jihad Against Atrocities and Terrorism, nothing was done to inform these boys that the pictures were not correct and that they were intended to provoke. Azam sees a Pakistani conspiracy against India. “Burma is not India’s problem. The boys should have been educated that the Assam violence was not a Muslim versus nonMuslim issue. It is Bodos versus non-Bodos, of which even Hindus are victims.’’ 

Azam says certain Muslim politicians from Muslim-leaning parties take advantage of the lack of knowledge of Urdu in the rest of society to provoke youth. “They issue one statement to the Urdu press and another to other newspapers that might catch them out and invite punitive action for provocation,’’ he insists. The statements are jingoistic and are blown out of context. 

But Sarfaraz Arzoo, editor of Urdu daily Hindustan, bristles at the suggestion that the Urdu press could be irresponsible, though he agrees that the conspiracy could be Pakistani, but aimed at diverting attention from the violence against minority Muslim sects in that country. 

Joint commissioner of police Himanshu Roy said they were aware of the morphed pictures and messages. “But this time we want the provocateurs, not just some boys who were rounded up from the spot. We will be tough.” 

However, at a meeting with CM Prithviraj Chavan, Muslim leaders from various groups complained against heavy-handedness against innocent boys picked up on Saturday, but promised help in identifying the brains behind the provocation. 

The CM told HT, “I am worried whether this is an external conspiracy to create disaffection in India between various communities.” The morphed picture of Buddhist monks standing over bodies of earthquake victims in China could be “an attempt to create problems between Dalits and Muslims,” he says. 
 

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/mumbai-violence-web-provocative-content-including-gujarat-riot-had-60-lakh-hits/988048/0

Mumbai violence: ‘Web provocative content, including Gujarat riot had 60 lakh hits’

Joshua Patnigere : Tue Aug 14 2012, 03:19 hrs
State Home Minister R R Patil on Monday said a link leading to a webpage with provocative content had a serious impact on the protest at Azad Maidan. “There were 60 lakh hits on a particular link leading to provocative content. But the videos and images were not of incidents in Assam and Myanmar. They were doctored and were actually images of the Gujarat riot and China earthquake,” said Patil. 

Even as Muslim leaders called for peace after Saturday’s violence near Azad Maidan, the Mumbai Police has begun to take serious note of groups that are continuing to post inflammatory content on social networking sites. 

Even as the organisers of the protest meet have apologised for the violence, a few groups on social networking sites, with several hundred followers each, have urged members to continue spreading the word about atrocities against Muslims and to “come out on the streets again in other cities”. Senior police officers confirmed that the Mumbai Police was contemplating action against those posting inflammatory content on these sites. 
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy said that the Cyber Crime Cell is monitoring all posts and pictures of the Azad Maidan protest put up on Facebook and other sites. “We are also checking and tracing persons who put up such pictures, both before and after the violence, on Saturday. Action will be taken against such persons,” said Roy. 
One group on Facebook, called ‘STOP killing Muslims in Burma’, had 12,606 members at the last count. With posts asking group members to organise demonstrations and inform the moderators for publicity, the Azad Maidan protest too finds mention in the group page. Until Monday evening, there were 320 ‘likes’ and 153 comments about the Azad Maidan protest. One user urged other group members to organise similar protests in their cities. 
The use of social media was key in publicising the Azad Maidan protest with a special ‘public event notification’ on Facebook still active. More than 1,500 users had confirmed that they would attend the protest. Posts on the page ranged from media bashing to condemning alleged police brutality on “peaceful protestors” at Azad Maidan. One user referred to the two victims who died in the violence as martyrs. 

With posts ranging from “waking up the Indian government” to “doing whatever it takes to draw attention”, the groups have seen a flurry of activity. “As a general rule, the hate-mongers are more active on the worldwide web,” said Javed Anand, secretary of Muslims for Secular Democracy and trustee of Citizens for Justice and Peace, which handed over a memorandum to Commissioner of Police Arup Patnaik calling for, among other things, reviving Mohalla Committees in sensitive parts of the city. “But the overwhelming majority of young Muslims are angry at what happened. They’re drawing comparisons with peaceful community movements and are calling what happened at Azad Maidan a disgrace to the community,” Anand added. 

Retired assistant commissioner of police Shamsher Khan Pathan said he believes the community members will hand over the perpetrators of violence once CCTV footage identifies them. “But the police should not pick up innocent Muslims. They should be strict against criminals, but there should be no vindictiveness.” 
Meanwhile, Pakistan-based blogger Faraz Ahmed posted a link showing that some of these pictures were from other 
conflict and disaster-hit Asian countries.