Prophet remarks: 2 killed as protests erupt in India’s Ranchi

Two persons were killed and over two dozen people, including security personnel, were critically injured as violent protests hit the eastern Indian city of Ranchi over the controversial comments made by two suspended BJP spokespersons on Prophet Mohammad (PUBH), officials concerned said today (June 11, 2022).

Police opened fire "in the air" during the clashes with the protesters, reports said.

Prohibitory orders, which disallow assembly of five or more persons at a time, have been clamped in 10 police station areas of Ranchi, capital city of Jharkhand state, to control further flareups of violence, the officials said, adding the internet has also been suspended in the areas, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Over two dozen people were injured in the clashes that rocked the state capital yesterday (June 10, 2022), officials said.

Thirteen of the critically injured people were admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), doctors there said.

"Two of them succumbed late last night. Three wounded are battling for their lives. The injured include security personnel," a hospital official said.

Ranchi's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Kumar Jha was admitted to the Medica Hospital with head injury, the officials said.

Besides the head, he also received injuries in other parts of his body after being hit by stones, they said.

Some Hindutva outfits have called for a Ranchi bandh today, asking the traders to keep their shops shut in protest against the violence.

The protesters in Ranchi came on a day when several Indian cities witnessed demonstrations demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks on the Prophet (PUBH).