Anti US Protest turns violent, Chennai city police chief shifted

On a day when Chennai witnessed yet another anti-U.S. protest that turned violent, city Police Commissioner J.K. Tripathy was transferred.

The transfer came days after the U.S. mission in the city was attacked by a large crowd of Muslims protesting against the controversial film Innocence of Muslims. The protesters almost entered the consulate after breaching the security cordon with ease.

S. George, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), a 1984 IPS officer, was named successor to Mr. Tripathy, who has been shifted as ADGP (Prisons). Mr. Tripathy held the post of Commissioner since May last year.

The stretch of Anna Salai from the Mount Road Dargah to Spencer Plaza, was a scene of violence, as the police resorted to lathi- charge to control members of various Islamic organisations who had hurled stones at the police.

On the fifth day of the protest against the American film, over 5,000 people belonging to nearly 25 Islamic organisations gathered near Holy Dargah Hazrath Syed Moosa Sha Khaderi, popularly called Mount Road Dargah, around 3.30 p.m. They shouted slogans against U.S. President Barack Obama; flung footwear at his pictures and burnt his effigies and the American flag.

Over the last few days, Muslim outfits held such protests. Mohammed Munir, vice-president, India Thowheed Jamaath, said Tuesday's protest was to show the collective strength of Muslims. "Muslims across the city came together to show how unfair it is to ridicule the prophet who is dearer than our lives."

The government also effected changes in respect of a couple of other police officers. T.K. Rajendran, ADGP/Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, was made ADGP (Law and Order). Satish Kumar Dogra, now ADGP/IG (Prisons), would be the new Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.

Source: The Hindu