Rajasthan Police has imposed Section 144 in Sawai Madhopur district’s Gangapur City in Rajasthan after members of the Muslim community pelted stones at the rally organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on its foundation day on Sunday. Internet services also remain suspended.
The rally, attended by over 500 members, was reportedly crossing the Fawara Chowk area when the Muslim mob started pelting stones at the VHP members from the Jama Masjid located in that area and from the houses nearby. Five people were injured in the clash.
As the incident was reported, the police reached the spot and drove the miscreants away by resorting to lathi-charge. According to Sawai Madhopur – Superintendent of Police, Sudhir Chaudhary: “The VHP workers were raising slogans at a procession when slogans started coming from the Jama Masjid side as well. Soon, the minority community started pelting stones on the rally leading to a stampede-like situation. Police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the mob, which vandalised six vehicles.”
It is believed that even on Sunday night, the police received reports of stone-pelting incidents, following which police made several arrests.
Police had to deploy additional forces to control the situation after communal tensions gripped the entire area following the incident. More than 1000 police personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control.
“Additional police force has been deployed in the city as well as in Karauli and Bharatpur and 25 people have been arrested,” confirmed Police.
VHP members staged a sit-in at Fawara Chowk demanding arrest of all accused. Additional Commissioner of Police Laxman Gaur has, however, confirmed that the situation is under control.
In a similar incident in Rajasthan, some Muslim groups had clashed with Hindus after the latter had organised a peaceful procession on the account of Ram Navami in the month of April. According to the report, the violence broke out when the procession entered the area belonging to the Muslim community. Following this, some people began to pelt stones at the rally, which resulted in further violence between two communities.
