As Navratri and Durga Puja comes to an end, a shocking video has emerged on social media. In a viral video from Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, that has sparked outrage, a procession for Durga Puja Visarjan can be seen getting attacked by heavy stone-pelting. The police have responded to the video and confirmed that 8 people have been arrested in the incident so far.
@Uppolice @up100 @balrampurpolice kya karywahi ki gai hai. pic.twitter.com/2Xq8y3Yx6y
— सुशील बाजपेयी अधिवक्ता। (@advocatesushil9) October 8, 2019
The Balrampur police responded on social media website Twitter and confirmed that 8 people have been arrested in connection with the attack and stone-pelting on the Durga Puja Visarjan procession and that the police is taking adequate measures to nab the rest of the individuals involved.
उपरोक्त प्रकरण में पुलिस ने मौके से 8 अराजक लोगों को गिरफ्तार कर लिया है। गंभीर धाराओं में अभियोग पंजीकृत कर लिया गया है। जुलूस सकुशल सम्पन्न हो गया है। मौके पर शांति व्यवस्था कायम है। पुलिस बल तैनात है। @Uppolice @ANI @JagranNews @Live_Hindustan https://t.co/D8JYVDAKHQ
— BALRAMPUR POLICE (@balrampurpolice) October 8, 2019
In the video itself, one can see even elderly Muslim men pelting stones at the Visarjan procession and in the distance, one can hear scared screams of individuals as the enraged stone-pelting carried on. One also gets a glimpse of an individual trying to hide in the truck and protect himself as the stone pelting carried on unabated.
What led to the stone-pelting
The Additional Superintendent of Police from Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh told OpIndia that the Durga puja Visarjan procession came under attack as it was passing in front of a mosque. Just before the mosque, there is a right turn. The procession that generally has a DJ and plays loud music passes through the mosque.
However, generally, the music is expected to be switched off while the Durga Puja procession passes through the mosque. The music, however, was not stopped and thus, an enraged Muslim community started pelting stones at the procession.
The Additional Superintendent said that the attack on the Visarjan procession might not have been spontaneous and the Muslim community may have been prepared with stones from before, in wait of the procession.
Law and Order in Balrampur after stone-pelting on Durga Visarjan procession
The Additional SP has confirmed that the law and order situation is under control in the area. He has asserted that currently, there is no communal tension in the area after 8 arrests were made in connection with the attack. After swift action by the police, the Durga Visarjan was also completed in peace by the Hindus of the area.
The Balrampur police has also released a press statement now.
The press release says that a complaint has been filed against 24 named and several other unnamed individuals under sections 147, 148, 149, 153a, 295a, 336 and 323. The press release also says that other than the 8 people already arrested, 4 teams are on the lookout for the rest of the perpatrators. There is heavy police deployment in the area as well.
