Clashes, Communal Tensions Amid Ram Navami Processions In 4 States. 1 Death In Gujarat & Jharkhand Each
Communal clashes gripped Ram Navami celebrations in four states wherein one death was reported in Gujarat. Police had to lob tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
New Delhi: Ram Navami celebrations on Sunday were marred by tensions and clashes in four states including Gujarat, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
Gujarat and Jharkhand reported one death each as several others were said to have been injured in the clashes in the four states.
ALSO READ | MP: Stones Hurled At Ram Navami Procession In Khargone Triggering Arson, Curfew Imposed In Three Areas
Gujarat
Communal clashes were reported in two cities in the state. In Khambhat, a clash broke out during a procession taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami on Sunday.
Himmatnagar city also witnessed violence between members of two communities during a similar event, PTI reported the police as informing.
One person was killed and another one injured in the communal clash in Khambhat.
"The body of an unidentified man, who appears to be around 65 years old, was recovered from the spot in Khambhat, where two groups pelted each other with stones after a clash broke out between them during a Ram Navami procession late this afternoon," Superintendent of Police Ajeet Rajyan said, as quoted by PTI.
As per the officials, the clashing groups indulged in stone-pelting and arson at both the places and the police had to lob tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
Khambhat city is located in Anand district, Himmatnagar lies in Sabarkantha district.
In Khambhat, another person was injured and a few shop cabins were set on fire by the miscreants during the incident. SP Ajeet Rajyan said that the situation was later brought under control using tear gas shells.
"The deceased appears to have died due to the injuries he suffered during the clash. Investigation into the incident is underway," PTI quoted the officer as saying.
In Himmatnagar, a violent mob damaged some vehicles and shops.
"Two groups clashed and pelted each other with stones over a Ram Navami procession. During the melee, some persons were hit by stones. But the situation was brought under control in some time," Vishal Vaghela, Sabarkantha's Superintendent of Police, said.
The agitators also set on fire three to four two-wheelers. SP Vishal informed that a large deployment of police personnel was made to maintain law and order there
West Bengal
Union Minister Dr Subhash Sarkar said that stones were pelted on a Ram Navami procession and also at his car in Bankura.
"Stones were pelted on the Ram Navami procession in Bankura. It was done politically. They pelted stones at my car. I appeal to the police to identify and arrest the accused," he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
As per inputs, police asked a procession coming out in front of a mosque located near Machantala Petrol Pump, to be diverted to the other side but the people involved in the procession refused. A large number of people tried to carry out the procession by breaking the barricading done by the police.
When stopped allegedly some people from the crowd started pelting stones. After this, the police had to resort to lathi-charge to drive the crowd away. So far, 17 people are reported to have been arrested in this case.
Besides this, Suvendu Adhikari, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, on Sunday alleged that a Ram Navami procession was attacked by policemen in the Howrah district. He alleged that some people were "seriously injured" in the incident.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh police imposed a curfew in three areas of Khargone and section 144 of CrPC in the entire city after stones were hurled at a Ram Navami procession there on Sunday.
The stone-pelting triggered incidents of arson wherein some vehicles were set on fire.
Khargone superintendent of police Sidharth Choudhary and two police personnel were injured in the stone-pelting along with some other people.
Khargone Additional Collector Sumersingh Mujalde said that when the Ram Navami procession started from the Talab Chowk area near the district headquarters, stones were pelted at the gathering, prompting police to fire tear gas shells to control the situation.
The procession was supposed to take a round of Khargone city but it was abandoned midway after the violence wherein some policemen and civilians were injured, the collector informed, as reported by PTI.
Madhya Pradesh Minister Narottam Mishra said that 77 people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident.
"SP injured after he was shot with a taser, can call it bullet too. 6 more police personnel injured, they are stable. A person not from the police has a severe head injury," he informed, as quoted by ANI.
The Khargone SP sustained an injury to his foot and was admitted to a private hospital.
Jharkhand
Clashes including stone-pelting and tiff broke out between two groups in Lohardaga on the occasion of Ram Navami. "In view of the same, Section 144 was imposed in Hirhi village, Lohardaga," Arvind Kumar Lal, Sub-Divisional Magistrate said, as reported by ANI.
As per the Lohardaga district administration, one severely injured man succumbed to his injuries. The deceased is a resident of the Latehar district.
"Additional forces have been deployed. Senior officers including two DIG and three SP are deployed in the area. Situation is being monitored and action is being taken accordingly. Sections 144 has been imposed in affected area," Jharkhand Police stated.
The clashes came even as security forces were deployed in sensitive districts such as Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Giridih, Chatra, and Hazaribag.
The state government had extended the time for processions till 10 pm in view of demands by various Ram Navami puja committees and political parties. The number of persons allowed in a procession was restricted to 100.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
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