19 people have been detained after members of two communities clashed in Panigate near Vadodara over bursting crackers during Diwali celebrations. The clash broke out at around 12.45 am on Tuesday in the communally sensitive Panigate locality. The clashes erupted over bursting firecrackers after power reportedly went out in the area. The matter escalated and both groups pelted stones at each other. A few vehicles were damaged during the clash and shops were vandalised.
Those detained included a person who allegedly hurled a petrol bomb at policemen from the third floor of this house in the locality nearly an hour after the clash broke out, Vadodara Deputy Commissioner of Police Yashpal Jaganiya told PTI.
No one was injured in the clash, he said, adding that a motorcycle parked in the area caught fire after a rocket firecracker fell on it.
"An incident of stone pelting occurred near the Muslim Medical centre in Panigate Monday night," DCP Jaganiya told ANI.
The situation is under control in the region and an investigation is underway to assess the cause of the incident.
“The police immediately reached the spot and took action; the situation was completely under control. CCTVs being checked & eyewitnesses' inquiry underway,” the Deputy Commissioner of Police added.
“The situation was normal and the market was running as usual. People got embroiled in a fight over the bursting of crackers. They started pelting stones at each other and vehicles were also put on fire,” one of the witnesses told ABP News.
Suspects from both communities were being rounded up, DCP Jaganiya told PTI.