On 09 December, the Bombay High Court granted bail to 16 Muslim youths who had been in custody for nearly 11 months following communal unrest in Mira Road, a suburb in Mumbai. The arrests occurred after tensions erupted in January 2024 during the Ram Mandir Prana Pratishtha ceremony.
Lawyers, families, and social workers have criticized the police for what they allege were one-sided actions targeting the Muslim community.
The arrests were made under FIR No. 34, filed by local police, naming 24 individuals allegedly involved in the unrest. Of these, three minors were granted bail earlier by the Juvenile Justice Court.
Another individual was released after investigations revealed no evidence of his involvement, including an absence of appearances in CCTV footage. However, the remaining individuals faced prolonged legal battles.
Advocate Shahood Anwar, who led the defence team, emphasized that the court found no concrete evidence linking the accused to acts of violence, adding, “This case highlights the need for unbiased investigations.”
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