Jodhpur Communal Clash: CM Gehlot Appeals To End Tensions, Holds High-Level Review Meeting

The communal clash in Jodhpur ensued following the installation of Eid flags alongside the statue of freedom fighter Balmukund Bissa on Monday.

New Delhi: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday called a high-level meeting with police officials to take stock of the law and order situation in the state in the wake of recent clashes in Jodhpur.

Communal tension in Jodhpur re-escalated after the Namaz of Eid on Tuesday morning. Earlier, five policemen were injured in the incident that took place past midnight, news agency PTI reported officials as saying.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister called the Jodhpur clashes between two groups "unfortunate" and appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony. 

"The tension that has arisen in Jodhpur since late last night is very unfortunate. It has been the tradition of our Rajasthan, of Marwar, that people of all societies, of all religions, coexist with love and brotherhood, even on festivals. I would like to appeal that all people maintain peace and end the tension," he said.

"The administration has been instructed to maintain peace and order at all costs," Ashok Gehlot had tweeted earlier, as he further called upon the people to help in maintaining the law and order situation in line with the "Jodhpur's tradition of love and brotherhood".

The Rajasthan Chief Minister also held a high-level meeting with the Director General of Police (DGP) and other officials regarding the law and order situation in the state, news agency ANI reported.

Communal Tension In Jodhpur 

According to PTI, members of the minority community were installing Eid flags and they put up a flag on a roundabout alongside the statue of freedom fighter Balmukund Bissa.

The other community alleged that a saffron flag that was put up there ahead of Parshuram Jayanti, had gone missing.

The issue snowballed into stone-pelting and clashes, PTI reported the officials as saying.

The police control room stated that police rushed to the spot to control the situation during which five policemen were injured.

The situation was brought under control with heavy police deployment, but the tension re-escalated after the Namaz of Eid on Tuesday morning when some people pelted stones near the Jalori Gate. A few vehicles were damaged, police said.

The police had to lob tear gas shells to disperse the mob. 

As per ANI, Rajasthan Police detained three persons in connection with the Jodhpur clash that took place earlier today.