A disturbing incident of violence unfolded as a group of masked men on motorcycles allegedly vandalised several shops and caused injuries to several individuals at two locations in Haryana's Panipat on Sunday (August 7). This episode occurred in the wake of the recent communal clashes that took place in Nuh.
The attackers specifically targeted shops belonging to members of a particular community, leaving the local authorities deeply concerned. The police promptly apprehended 15 individuals in connection with the violent rampage, news agency PTI reported citing officials. The suspects are undergoing questioning to establish their roles in the incident, the report said.
Providing further details, the official told PTI that the assailants were young men, aged between 20 and 25, who wore masks to conceal their identities during the attacks. The sudden and swift nature of the assaults caught the victims off-guard, resulting in minor injuries sustained by three to four people, the official added.
"The attackers were youths aged between 20 and 25 and were riding motorcycles. They wore masks," the official said.
Adding to the mounting concerns, a few days prior to this incident, unidentified individuals reportedly vandalised a chicken shop located near the residence of a man who lost his life during the Nuh clashes. The police are examining the potential connections between these incidents to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation, as per the report.
The previous days witnessed fierce clashes in Nuh, leading to the deaths of six people, including two home guards and a cleric. The confrontations were triggered by an attempt to halt a procession organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), which subsequently spread to Gurugram, escalating the tension in the region.