At least two Muslims youth were killed and over 10 sustained severe injuries as Hindutva mobs unleashed violence against Muslim protesters that led to police opening fire in Indian city of Ranchi to quell protests by thousands of Muslims against derogatory comments about Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) by two Bharatiya Janata  Party leaders.

The deceased were identified as Mudassir of Islamnagar locality and Sahil of Christia Nagar on the Mahatama Gandhi Road in Ranchi city of Jharkhand state. Mudassir was 15-year-old. His Uncle who spoke to media saying Mudassar was returning from the mosque after Friday prayers. When he reached in front of a Hanuman temple, some miscreants who were inside the temple started pelting stones, to which the people on the road also started pelting the stones.

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Later the police opened fire, said Mudassir’s uncle, adding he still doubts that the bullet was fired from the temple or by the police. ”It is a matter of investigation,” he declared.

When the 15-year-old got the bullet in his head, he fell on the road. After which he was rushed to Ranchi Institute of Medical Science where he breathed his last.

Pictures of two Muslim youth died in the protests.

Another Muslim youth Sahil also succumbed to his injury. One of the eyewitnesses, who did not want to be named, told media that at least 15 Muslims were injured by the bullet shots. “More than 1,100 shops in the market in Ranchi were shut since morning in protest against remarks of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal. We demand their immediate arrest,” a Muslim trader was quoted as saying by Indian media.

He said they wanted a peaceful procession but the police did not give permission. “So, we were protesting peacefully outside our shops here.”

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Authorities at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences confirmed that two people brought to the hospital after the protesters clashed with police have succumbed to their injuries. Ten others were being treated at the hospital, they said.

Several parts of the Jharkhand capital were put under curfew after protesters clashed with police yesterday. The protesters demanded the arrest of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, whose remarks on Prophet Muhammad have kicked up a storm.

Police fired in the air and took to lathi-charge yesterday to control the mob after they started throwing stones.

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A large crowd gathered on Ranchi's Main Road and raised slogans against Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal, former head of the Delhi BJP's media unit who was expelled by the party over his remarks.

Heavy force has been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident. Many shops in the city also remained closed to protest against the remarks.

The violence in the Jharkhand capital broke out on a day several cities across at least nine states witnessed huge protests over the BJP leader's remarks. 

City police chief Anshuman Kumar confirmed that two people died of gunshot injuries. "Eight rioters and four policemen have been injured. They are being treated at RIMS and other hospitals. We will first identity those involved in the violence, question them and then arrest them," he said.

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"The situation is under control. Restrictions are in place in the affected areas," he added.

Senior superintendent of police Surendra Kumar Jha has suffered severe injuries. Curfew has been enforced in different parts of the city, including on the Ranchi Main Road and in the Daily Market area.

The injured people were rushed to Anjuman Hospital, where they are currently being treated. According to the latest information, at least 10 people suffered severe injuries in the firing. 

The Indian city saw two protest gatherings by Muslims after Friday prayers – one near Doranda Rasladarbaba’s Mazhar and the other near Iqra Masjid. While the first gathering turned into a procession from Mazhar to Rajendar Chowk, the second was a human chain.

People joined the human chain from Ratan Talkies and Hindpiri area, proceeding towards the Daily Market. Near the market, where the Hanuman Mandir is situated, stone-pelting took place from the temple, resulting in a face-off between police and protestors. To quell the pandemonium, the police first resorted to lathi-charge and then opened fire.

Speaking on the situation on the ground, DIG Anish Gupta said that the situation is currently under control. He added that police have been trying their best to normalise the situation by deploying heavy police deployment all over the city.