Indian Muslims Protest Against Anti-Islam US Film At American Center In Kolkatta

New Delhi, Sept 28, IRNA – Thousands of Muslims on Thursday marched towards the American Centre in Kolkata, capital city of West Bengal state, to protest against an anti-Islam video and to demand that the US authorities apologize for it. The protestors, belonging to Muslim organizations, including the All-Bengal Minorities Youth Federation, broke barricades and tried to approach the highly-fortified American Center on Chowringee, but were stopped some distance away, pti reported quoting police sources as saying. The protest grid-locked traffic bumper-to-bumper on Chowringhee and C R avenue in central Kolkata and had a ripple effect elsewhere, including the south and the north in the metropolis. Police sources said an estimated 20,000-25,000 people from the minority community gathered in between Esplanade and Chowringhee to protest against video which was available on the internet. Apprehending that the situation might turn violent the American Center closed down in the second half of day, officials said. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered 15 cases in various parts of the state against the uploading of anti-Islam video. "Police has initiated action against certain objectionable and blasphemous film clips that had surfaced on YouTube," a police spokesman said today. He said 15 cases have been lodged in different police stations of Kashmir Zone for trying to promote religious enmity among different groups on grounds of religion. The cases have been registered in police stations at Kothibagh, Budgam, Ganderbal, Leh, Anantnag, Shopian, Pampore, Pulwama, Rajpora, Awantipora, Tral, Kulgam, Handwara, Kupwara and Sopore, he added. A 14-minute trailer for the video titled “Innocence of Muslims,” was uploaded on the internet depicting Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in a derogatory manner According to media reports, the video is a brain child of a 52-year old Israeli-American, Sam Bacile who had received a donation of $ 5 million from 100 Jewish donors to make a movie called “Islam is Cancer.” The film had sparked fury among Muslims around the globe in which around 50 people have lost their life./end