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Another row over sketches in M.S. University

Protesters hurl stones during <br />a bandh in Vadodara on Friday” title=”Protesters hurl stones during <br />a bandh in Vadodara on Friday” /><br /> <br />Protesters hurl stones during <br />a bandh in Vadodara on Friday </div> <p>Vadodara:</strong> After the row over controversial paintings by a student of Maharaja Sayajirao University which angered the Sangh Parivar, the institution finds itself in the throes of another controversy over "provocative" sketches.<br /> <br />A complaint had been registered against Deepak Shah, a senate member, and four others for allegedly pasting the "provocative" sketches, police said. </p> <p>The complaint was registered by Farid Lakhijwala after "derogatory" sketches were found near the D.N. Hall housing the Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya on the campus. </p> <p><strong>Reward offered</strong> </p> <p>Mr. Lakhijwala’s complaint said that Mr. Shah had offered a reward of Rs.1 lakh to anyone making an artwork on Prophet Mohammed during the recent unrest at university campus over the controversial exhibition by Chandramohan, a student of the Fine Arts Department, which invited the ire of saffron outfits.<br /> <br />Police Inspector K.B. Jadeja said they are trying to trace the originals of the sketches."The sketches seem to be the handiwork of persons wanting to vitiate the atmosphere in the city and investigations will expose it," Police Commissioner P.C. Thakur said. </p> <p>Meanwhile, the owner of a local news channel Ajay Dave and photographer Maulik Patel were beaten up by people when the duo had gone to take pictures of the sketches. </p> <p><strong>Latest Updates</strong></p> <p>Furore over sketches depicting Prophet Mohammed in the nude found in M S University campus on Wednesday night spilled over on the streets of vadodara on Friday afternoon. </p> <p>Mob belonging to the Muslim community pelted stones on the police and media persons to vent ire against the sketches. Later in the night, fresh violence broke out again at 9.30. </p> <p>Stone pelting was reported in Sultanpura area in Wadi, Junighadi near Panigate and Madanjhampa Road. Mobs were on the streets and the police had to rush to these spots to bring the situation under control. </p> <p>The mob violence was sparked off after prayers at Jumma Masjid in Mandvi area of the city. A mob came out on the streets and held demonstrations against the sketches. </p> <p>Some of the protestors were waving posters of Osama bin Laden. Police commissioner P C Thakur was also mobbed by the demonstrators. Violence spilled over in the vicinity of Jamnabai Hospital near Mandvi and Limvali Masjid in Yakutpura area of the city. </p> <p>Thakur said that the stone-pelting in this area was in reaction to the detention of persons who were up to mischief near Jumma Masjid."However, the police was the target of the mob. The violence was not communal in nature,"Thakur said. A state transport bus was also targeted in Ladwada area near Jamnabai Hospital. </p> <p>Windscreens and window panes of the bus were shattered by pelting stones on it. Three teargas shells had to be lobbed in Ladwada to disperse the mobs. A teargas shell was also lobbed near Limwali Masjid in Yakutpura to disperse mob there. </p> <p>While computer printouts giving the call of a ‘bandh’ to protest against the sketches were pasted at several places in the walled city as well as on several autorickshaws on Thursday and Friday, no person or organisation claimed responsibility for the call. </p> <p>Several community leaders, in fact, urged people to refrain from enforcing the call. In the afternoon, some youths were seen asking establishments to close down in Raopura area. The call, however, evoked some response only in select pockets. </p> <p>Shops opened in most of these areas late in the evening after the situation became normal. Patrolling and vigil has been intensified in the sensitive areas of the city. </p> <p>Ref. <br />– <a href=http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/26/stories/2007052601461400.htm
– http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Obscene_sketches_City_on_boil/articleshow/2075129.cms

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