The prime accused of the June 3 Kanpur violence, which broke out during a protest against BJP leader Nupur Sharma's controversial statement against Prophet Muhammad, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday.
Haji Wasi, accused of funding the violence, was caught near Amausi airport in Lucknow while he was trying to flee, said a senior police official.
Wasi's eldest son, Abdur Rahman, was also sent to jail on Monday in this connection.
With these, the total number of arrests made in the case has reached 61.
Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Anand Prakash Tiwari said Wasi's location was found in and around Lucknow.
Following Wasi's location, he was arrested near Amausi airport, he added.
"The accused has been taken to Kanpur and is being questioned. He will be produced before the court and further action will be taken in accordance with the court's directives," the officer noted.
He added that Wasi has previous criminal records -- four criminal cases were registered against him.
The Special Investigation Team had earlier obtained a non-bailable warrant (NBW) from the Metropolitan Magistrate-VI court against him and as many as 18 other accused in the case.
The Kanpur administration had also demolished one of the buildings belonging to Wasi after the violence.
Violent clashes followed by stone-pelting took place on June 3 in Kanpur after a local Muslim organisation -- Maulana Mohammad Ali (MMA) Jauhar Fans Association -- called for shutting down shops across the city over Nupur Sharma's controversial comments.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Plea Seeking Arrest Of Nupur Sharma Law Minister Present, Ashok Gehlot Makes Sharp Comments On Judiciary, PM "Nupur Sharma Cooperating": Delhi Police Sources After Court's Criticism BJP Flags Waved At Priyanka Gandhi During Nagpur Roadshow. She Does This "Didn't Leave Due To Any Pressure": Kailash Gahlot On Switch From AAP To BJP Explained: Why Saudi Arabia Executed Over 100 Foreigners This Year What Trump Camp, Putin, Zelensky Said After Biden's Missile Nod For Ukraine Types Of Headaches: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments Bihar STET 2024 Results Out, Check Steps To Download Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.