At least two people died and 10 were injured in a violent protest in India’s Ranchi over derogatory remarks on the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by two former BJP spokespersons.
Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences authorities said that two people brought to the hospital after the protest with police have succumbed to their injuries, reports NDTV.
Ten other people were being treated at the hospital, they added.
Ranchi police chief Anshuman Kumar also 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 identify those involved in the violence, question them, and then arrest them," he told NDTV.
Several parts of the Jharkhand capital were put under curfew after protesters clashed with police on Friday. The protesters demanded the arrest of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, whose remarks on Prophet Muhammad have initiated several protests across India and other countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has faced a backlash from Muslims at home and abroad, including from a number of Gulf countries, after Nupur and another official from his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) commented in late May and earlier this month on the prophet's private life, reports Reuters.
Meanwhile, India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Sunday it had suspended its spokeswoman Nupur Sharma in response to comments she made during a TV debate about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Sharma said on Twitter she had said some things in response to comments made about a Hindu god but she had no intention to hurt anyone's religious feelings.
"If my words have caused discomfort or hurt religious feelings of anyone whatsoever, I hereby unconditionally withdraw my statement," she said.
Another BJP spokesman Naveen Jindal had been expelled from the party over comments he had made about Islam on social media, the BJP office said.
Jindal said on Twitter he had questioned some comments made against Hindu gods. "I only questioned them but that does not mean I am against any religion."
The BJP statement also said: "The Bharatiya Janata Party is also strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion. The BJP does not promote such people or philosophy."
Sharma's comments prompted complaints from several Muslim countries, including Bangladesh, Qatar and Kuwait, and Pakistan.
On Friday, thousands of Muslims in several districts of Bangladesh held demonstrations, protesting the incident.
Muslims from Dhaka, Savar, Barisal, Faridpur, and Narayanganj held protests after Jumma prayers on Friday.
