Bhopal: Two Groups Clash After Dispute Over Speeding Bike, 6 Injured As Stones Pelted, Swords Brandished

The tensions began on Sunday, December 22, when a member of the Muslim community, Faiz, allegedly drove through a street dominated by the Sikhs in the area.

A clash over speeding bikes turned violent in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal on Tuesday, injuring at least six people. The altercation, which started as a minor dispute, turned into a massive conflict between two communities, involving stone-throwing and sword-wielding from people of both sides.

The incident occurred in the Old Grain Market area of Jahangirabad, which is home to both Sikh and Muslim communities. 

The tensions began on Sunday, December 22, when a member of the Muslim community, Faiz, allegedly drove through a street dominated by the Sikhs in the area. This led to a confrontation during which Faiz reportedly attacked a Sikh man with a vegetable cart knife. He and two others were later arrested after a case was filed against them.

Following the violeng clashes, DCP Zone-1 Priyanka Shukla told news agency ANI: "Two days ago, there was a dispute over speeding motorcycles, leading to an FIR. Five people were named as accused, three of whom were immediately arrested, while two remain at large. Our police team is actively searching for them."

She said that the people of one of the communities claimed to have had seen the absconding accused, which made the other community angry. She stated that the police were able to control the mob as they were already deployed in the area. Shukla further said the situation is under control and action is being taken regarding the incident.

"People of one side today said that they had seen the absconding accused, due to which all these people got angry and about 25-30 people came here with sticks and stones were also pelted by them, but since policemen were already deployed here, they immediately informed the control room, so immediately adequate police force arrived here and in about 5 minutes all the people creating disturbance were chased away, so no one was injured in this incident... Action is being taken in the matter. Now the situation is under control," she added.

Several Muslim homes were reportedly targeted in the vicinity during the clashes. Efforts were made to mediate between the two communities, with Sikh community members later gathering at a Gurudwara to discuss the incident, India Today reported.

"The police are conducting a thorough investigation and have urged all residents to maintain peace and avoid communal conflicts," an official said.