Madhya Pradesh police have booked around 2,000 people including Congress MLA Arif Masood and some Muslim clerics after they protested against French President Emmanuel Macron at Bhopal's Iqbal Maidan on Thursday (29 October).

The police said that an FIR has been registered against them for staging protest in violation of the Covid-19 restrictions, reports Firstpost.

According to the report, as many as 2,000 people, including Masood and some clerics, were charged under Section 188 (disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant) of the IPC on Thursday evening, Talaiya police station officer D P Singh said.

The demonstrators reportedly violated the district administration's instructions on social distancing during the demonstration.

The Muslim community in Bhopal led by Congress MLA Arif Masood had on Thursday demonstrated against French President Emmanuel Macron at Bhopal's Iqbal Maidan against Macron over the controversy related to depictions of Prophet Mohammad in France.

Reacting sharply to the demonstration, Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Madhya Pradesh is an island of peace. "We will deal with those who disturb its peace with strictness. In this case, action is being taken by registering a case under section 188 of the IPC. No culprit will be spared, whoever it is."

(With inputs from IANS)