MP: Curfew in Khargone after violence on Ram Navami
Highlights
- Curfew clamped in entire Khargone city of Madhya Pradesh
- Stones were hurled at Ram Navami procession a day earlier
- Procession was supposed to take a round of Khargone city, but it was abandoned midway after violence
Curfew was clamped in the entire Khargone city of Madhya Pradesh after stones hurled at a Ram Navami procession here triggered arson and torching of some vehicles and houses, a senior official said on Monday. The incident took place on Sunday when devotees were celebrating Ram Navami. Police had to fire tear gas shells to control the situation. Following the incident, curfew was clamped in the entire Khargone city on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, Khargone Collector Anugrah P said.
Citizens have been asked to step out of home only for medical emergency, she said, adding that the situation is under control. The collector also said that strict action will be taken against those sharing objectionable messages and videos of the Khargone incident on social media. The district administration in a tweet said that for any urgent work, except medical emergency, one can seek permission from the SDM office, tehsil office and Kotwali police station. Earlier, on Sunday, the authorities had clamped curfew in three areas here and imposed Section 144 of the CrPC (banning assembly of four or more people) in the entire city following the violence.
Khargone Superintendent of Police Siddharth Choudhary and two other police personnel were injured in the stone-pelting along with some people, an official earlier said. Meanwhile, state Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel, who is also in-charge of Khargone district, in a tweet said he has directed the officials to take strict action against rioters.
Divisional Commissioner Pawan Sharma and DIG, Nimar Range, Tilak Singh also reached Khargone to take stock of the situation. When the Ram Navami procession started from the Talab Chowk area near the district headquarters, stones were pelted at the gathering, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to control the situation, Khargone Additional Collector Sumer Singh Mujalde had said. The procession was supposed to take a round of Khargone city, but it was abandoned midway after the violence, he added.
Multiple incidents of communal clashes were reported from other parts of the country. Clashes also broke out in Gujarat, Jharkhand and West Bengal during peaceful processions during Ram Navami. The processions are taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami to celebrate the birthday of Lord Ram.
Gujarat
Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) held a flag march in Chhapariya area a day after violence was reported in Himmatnagar and Khambhat cities. Communal clashes broke out between two communities during Ram Navami processions, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to control mobs who pelted stones at each other and damaged shops and vehicles at both places. Members of two communities hurled stones at each other when a Ram Navami procession reached Chhapariya locality in Himmatnagar city in the Sabarkantha district in the late afternoon, a police official said. In Khambhat town in the Anand district, a clash broke out during a Ram Navami procession wherein stones were pelted and shops and vehicles were damaged by two groups, a control room official said, adding that tear gas shells were fired. The processions were taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ram.
West Bengal
Some micreants targeted a Ram Navami procession which was being taken out by Vishwa Hindu Parishad near BE College in South Howrah. The incident took place when the procession was peacefully coming towards Howrah Ramkrishna Pur Ghat near PM Basti area which falls under the Shivpur police station. Post the incident, a huge police force was deployed in the affected region and an investigation has been ordered.
Jharkhand
Tense atmposhere is prevailing after violence during a fair at the border of Hendlaso-Kujra village during Ram Navami celebrations. Stones were pelted on people taking part in Ram Navami procession by people of a particular community and set on fire at least 10 two wheelers and a pick-up van. In self-defence, people involved in the procession also pelted stones in response. At least 4 people were injured in the incident
Also Read | Ram Navami processions attacked in Gujarat, Jharkhand, Bengal; vehicles set on fire, shops damaged
