2 Cops Injured, Shops Set On Fire As Communal Violence Erupts Between Two Communities In Jodhpur

Two policemen were injured and stones were pelted after communal violence erupted in Jodhpur over the construction of a gate at an Eidgah. 

Violence In Jodhpur: At least two policemen were injured in stone-pelting, a shop was set on fire and two vehicles were damaged as communal violence erupted in a locality in Rajasthan's Jodhpur, police said on Saturday.

Jodhpur West DCP Rajesh Kumar Yadav said the clash began Friday night over the construction of a gate in the backside of an eidgah near Rajaram Circle in the Soor Sagar area, as reported by news agency PTI. Locals in the area had opposed the gate so that there was no movement of people at the backside of the eidgah.

DCP Yadav said that tension escalated last night and some people pelted stones, injuring two policemen. "A shop and a tractor were set on fire, and a jeep was vandalised," a senior police officer said, as quoted by PTI. "Police dispersed people to their homes by using batons and fired 4-5 rounds of tear gas shells," the officer further stated. Situation was brought under control by late Friday night but the area remained tense.

Heavy police and Rajasthan Armed Constabulary forces continue to be deployed on Saturday morning to maintain law and order. Security was heightened in Soorsagar area following the unrest and stone pelting.

2 FIRs Registered, Say Police 

Speaking on the violence, Police Commissioner Rajendra Singh said that two FIRs were filed based on complaints from both sides. Police said people from both sides have been taken into custody. Police are still raiding houses in the locality to apprehend suspects.

According to police, the construction of the wall on the back side of the eidgah began on Friday evening, which was resisted by locals, as reported by PTI. The subsequent confrontation turned violent later with stone-pelting, arson and vandalism.

When police arrived at the scene and used batons to disperse the crowd, some people set fire to a tractor parked by the roadside and damaged a vehicle.

Police faced a barrage of stones hurled at them when they were charging at the crowd following which their advancement was blocked, PTI reported. A brief peace was also worked out by the police with the help of senior members from both communities but sudden stone-pelting turned the situation tense again. 

Speaking on the clashes between the two communities, Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Jogaram Patel said, "Our tradition has been to live in harmony...If an anti-social element makes yesterday's incident in Soorsagar as the base and tries to remove harmony, it can't be tolerated. I urge all communities to uphold love and harmony. If someone tries to give it a different form, then action has been taken against them by the Police. Further action will be taken if any such thing is found. Right now, the area is peaceful. Action has been taken against the guilty and suspects."

Many Taken Into Custody For Stone Pelting, Says Official

Speaking to news agency ANI, Nishant Bhardwaj, ADCP, Jodhpur said, " Yesterday, on 21st June, communal unrest broke out between two communities. Stone pelting happened and there was pelting against the Police as well...Using all our forces, the situation was brought under control. Right now, the situation in the area is fine. Many were taken into custody for pelting stones at Police and for spreading unrest."