At least 21 police personnel were injured, while ten police vans were damaged at Amravati in eastern Maharashtra, after an agitated mob hurled stones at the police demanding registration of a case against a Gaziabad-based Hindu seer Yati Narsinghanand Maharaj for his purported objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammed

The police beefed up security in Amravati on Saturday, after a huge mob of protesters staged a violent protest on Friday night in front of  the Nagpuri Gate police station, demanding registration of a case against  Yati Narsinghanand Maharaj.

The police have registered a case against 1,200 people in connection with the incident. They have identified 26 of the protesters.

The police have deployed extra forces have been deployed to maintain law and order.

Talking to media persons, Amravati Police Commissioner Navin Chandra Reddy said: “A huge mob, including members of some organisations, came to the Nagpuri Gate police station around 2015 pm on Friday night to press for their demand of registration of a case against Yati Narsinghanand Maharaj of Ghaziabad.”

“After some people circulated the video of the Hindu seer’s remarks, a massive crowd of people assembled in front of the Nagpuri Gate police station,

When our officers were trying to disperse the crowd, some people from the mob hurled stones at the police.   An FIR has already been registered against those involved in the incident”.

The police have, meanwhile, issued a prohibitory order under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) banning the assembly of five or more people in Nagpuri Gate area

“If people take law in their hands, they will be dealt with sternly,” Reddy said.