Police have enforced curfew after incidents of violence in Hailakandi town in southern Assam today. 15 people are said to be injured in violent clashes, including three policemen. Reports of arson also coming from media. Later, one person succumbed to injuries at the Silchar Medical College, who has been identified as Jamiruddin Tapadar.
According to several reports, people feared about communal tension for the last two days when during Tuesday namaz, some miscreants allegedly threw stones on vehicles of local Muslims who had parked it near a mosque. Muslim community complained to the local police station and threatened to pray on road on Friday if nothing was done.
On Friday, the Muslims decided to hold Friday noon prayers on a road in front of the mosque, which leads to a Kali Mandir. This was objected by local Hindus who said the road to their temple was being purposefully blocked. This resulted in stone pelting from both sides. Police resorted to firing blanks to disperse the crowd. Now, curfew has been imposed in the area on the orders of DM.
Alert: Communal clashes break out in Assam injuring 15. Clashes broke out after Friday prayers were allegedly held in a road that leads to a temple. Curfew imposed. Uneasy calm in the area.
PS: Holding back video deliberately. pic.twitter.com/PzSbGOGUpA
— Anindya (@AninBanerjee) May 10, 2019
Talking about the issue, journalist Anindya Banerjee tweeted, “Communal clashes break out in Assam injuring 15. Clashes broke out after Friday prayers were allegedly held in a road that leads to a temple. Curfew imposed. Uneasy calm in the area. Holding back video deliberately.”
During the clashes, several vehicles parked in the area were torched by rioters. Police had to do lathi charge and fire in the air to disperse the mob. Curfew and prohibitory orders under section 144 have been imposed in the town, and additional security forces have been sent.
Assam CM Sarbananada Sonowal has ordered Additional Chief Secy Rajib Bora to conduct an inquiry into the violence. Parimal Suklabaidya, a minister of Sonowal cabinet and MLA from nearby Dholai, ADGP Mukesh Agarwala & Barak Valley Commissioner Anwar Hussain also rushed to the spot.
