New Delhi: During processions marking Ram Navami, the Hindu holiday commemorating the birth of Hindu God Ram, communal riots erupted in four states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
According to a top official, parts of Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone have been placed under curfew following rioting and burning during a Ram Navami parade. To avoid a flare-up, a considerable number of police officers have been sent.
Stones were allegedly hurled at a march that started from Talab Chowk area following an incident over loudspeaker music, according to Additional Collector SS Mujalde. Mr Mujalde stated, “Police had to fire teargas shells to quell the situation.”
Vehicles are set on fire, people throw stones, and police opened fire teargas shells, visuals indicate. Many police officers were hurt, including police superintendent Siddharth Chaudhary. A temple was vandalised and four residences were set on fire.
In Gujarat, communal clashes took place in Anand district’s Khambhat and Sabarkantha district’s Himmatnagar, news agency PTI reported. Stone pelting and arson was reported at both places and police had to fire teargas shells to control the situation, officials said.
In Khambhat, Police superintendent Ajeet Rajyan said, “The body of an unidentified man, who appears to be around 65 years old, was recovered from the spot where the two groups clashed during a Ram Navami procession.”
After reports of skirmishes during a Ram Navami procession in the Shibpur district, police officers have been stationed in significant numbers in Bengal’s Howrah. Police have stated that they are taking precautions to keep the peace.
The BJP, which is in opposition, claims that the police attacked the Ram Navami procession. Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, accused police of showering blows on individuals taking part in the Ram Navami parade.
Residents in Howrah have been asked to exercise caution when publishing anything on social media, and they have been advised against propagating fake news.
Stone-pelting and arson attacks on Ram Navami processions have also been reported in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga. Several people were hurt, three of them were critically injured, according to reports. To protect the peace, a large police force has been deployed on the ground.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
