HYDERABAD: Police said on Wednesday they have arrested the prime suspect involved in the alleged desecration of the Quran, which resulted in mob-led violence in the Saddar area of Cantt police station on August 22.

The incident led to unrest among the people in the city, with timely action by law-enforcement ensuring that the mob didn’t set a five-storey building on fire over the alleged blasphemy.

Hyderabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amjad Shaikh had formed an inquiry committee comprising five police officers following the incident. The investigation has led to another arrested - with the man in custody believed to be the prime suspect.

The suspect’s mental condition is suspect and he has confessed to the crime, police said, adding that all pieces of evidence and proof collected from the house of the accused confirmed his statement.

The Cantt police had earlier registered a case against a sanitation worker, who was arrested during the unrest that unfolded at Rabi Plaza following the blasphemy allegations. Police say their investigation showed that the sanitation worker wasn’t involved.

Blasphemy case

The Cantonment police station had registered a case under sections 295-B (defiling of Holy Quran) and 34 (common intention) of the PPC on the complaint of Bilal, son of one Bundoo Khan Abbasi.

In the FIR, the complainant stated that he was informed about the desecration of the Holy Quran in Rabi Plaza. When he went there, he along with 8-10 other people found that someone had burnt pages of the holy book.

The complaint stated in the FIR that one Maulana Amin Zikriya showed him burnt pages near an elevator. After seeing the evidence, he inquired from a sanitary worker if he knew the identity of the individual who had done this.

Upon not receiving any reply from the said sanitary worker, he handed him over to the police along with the burnt pages to the police.

Police confirmed that they have a sanitary worker in their custody. He was also presented in court which handed him to the police on a seven-day physical remand.

48 people booked over violence

A first information report (FIR) has been registered against those involved in Sunday’s violence on the complaint of Cantonment police sub-inspector Airaf Gul Awan.

It was registered under the following Sections of the PPC:

• 353 (assault or act to deter a public servant from discharge his duty)
• 147 (punishment for rioting)
• 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon)
• 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object)
• 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to Rs50)
• 337H(ii) - punishment for hurt by rash or negligent act) At least 48 suspects were arrested in connection with Sunday’s violence. They were presented in court earlier today (Monday) and released on bail against surety bonds of Rs20,000 each.