Of the 63 people, including policemen who were injured in Saturday’s rioting at Azad Maidan, 37 patients have been discharged from hospitals. All the injured victims are stable and out of danger.
While 18 women constables were allegedly molested by the rioters, the police and hospital authorities have not revealed their identities as yet. Three women police constables are still undergoing treatment at G.T. Hospital. Most of the victims have suffered trauma injuries and head injuries. Two civilians admitted to J.J. Hospital suffered bullet injuries.
“The protest was peaceful till around 2.30 pm, after which more people gathered to enter the maidan. When we stopped them because the place was overcrowded, they started beating us with bamboo sticks, stones and whatever they could lay their hands on. Only at around 4 pm did we get the charge orders,” said constable Bhushan Patharva, 24, from local arms division, headquarters, Worli. Mr Patharva, who suffered leg injury, is admitted to G.T. Hospital. The two deceased — Mohammed Umar, 22, and Aftab Khan, 18, — were buried amidst much tension on Sunday. Both young men lost their lives, allegedly after being hit by the police’s bullets.
“We had no intention of doing anything violent. We were only caught up in the madness, and things went from bad to worse when shots were fired,” said Umar’s friend Salim Qureshi, who was with him on Saturday, adding that they got separated during the ensuing confusion. However, officials from the Nirmal Nagar police as well as the crime branch chief Himanshu Roy confirmed that Umar had four criminal cases registered against him and had also been externed twice.