Cops Arrest Sp Man, Face Of Violence
Sachin Haralkar / Vikas Shrivastav, Mumbai Mirror
February 17, 2008
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article&sectid=15&contentid=200802172008021702160772690ccb8fd0

Mehtab Aalam, the sight of whose blood-soaked face probably intensified the violent clashes between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Samajwadi Party workers, has been arrested.

Aalam was paraded on stage by SP leader Abu Asim Azmi during the ‘Bharat Bachao’ rally at Shivaji Park on February 3, the day the clashes broke. The next day, the picture of a bleeding Aalam, a resident of Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, appeared in almost all newspapers.

Aalam had been injured in an alleged attack by MNS workers, and police suspect that the post-rally violent incidents were triggered after he was produced on stage.

SP leaders had made provocative speeches at the rally after Aalam's arrival and threatened retaliation if MNS workers continued violent acts. According to SI Vilas Gurav of Shivaji Park police station, Aalam was a complainant in an assault case, but he himself was wanted in another rioting case. "Police had been on the lookout for Aalam. His photographs in newspapers and video clips of the rally were circulated to police stations. He was one of the key persons wanted by us," Gurav told Mumbai Mirror. During investigations, police identified Aalam and found his whereabouts. Special teams formed at various police stations rounded him up on Saturday evening. Aaalam has been charged with rioting (Section 146 IPC) and conspiracy (120-B) and will be produced in court on Sunday.

A city newspaper had published photos of Aalam first assaulting some MNS workers at Dadar and then getting beaten up by MNS workers. The sight of his blood-soaked face and clothes allegedly instigated SP workers at the rally, who resorted to violence, police said.