Andhra Pradesh: Clash Between Two Communities During Hanuman Jayanti Procession; 15 Injured, 20 Held

Section 144 has been imposed in Holagunda town in wake of the incident.

Adequate civil and armed forces have been deployed. (Representative Image: ANI)

New Delhi: Clashes broke out in Kurnool city of Andhra Pradesh after two communities pelted stones at each other during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday, police said.

According to a report by news agency ANI, a clash broke out between the members of two communities and stones were pelted from both the sides in Alur, Kurnool district.

At least 15 people have sustained minor injuries due to the violence.

According to reports, while Iftar was being observed at a mosque in Eerla Katta in Holagunda town, a Hanuman Jayanti procession crossed the area. The people in the mosque raised objection to the loud music which led to clashes. During the incident, both the sides started pelting stones at each other.   

Kurnool SP, Sudheer Reddy, confirming the incident, said the stone-pelting took place for almost 10 minutes.

“The VHP organised Hanuman Jayanthi celebrations in Holagunda. They used the DJ sets against the advice of the police. When they went near the mosque, police asked them to shut down the DJ sets. But they stopped in front of the mosque and started raising ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans. To this, the people from the Muslim community started shouting ‘Allah hu Akhbar,” India Today quoted the SP as saying.

After the police made the VHP members leave the spot, the procession moved a little away from the mosque and started playing loud music again. Following this, the Muslims raised their objection and a small altercation began which snowballed into the situation of stone pelting, he added.

The SP said that 20 persons have been taken into custody based on videos and are being interrogated. The situation is peaceful and adequate civil and armed forces have been deployed.

Condemning the incident, Andhra Pradesh’s BJP unit president Somuveer Raju demanded immediate arrest of those who attacked the procession.

Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in Holagunda town in wake of the incident.