Meerut: An attempt to incite communal tension was busted in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut ahead of Holi after an argument between people from two communities turned violent two days ahead of the festival.
According to reports, people from the Hindu community on Sunday evening were preparing for Holika Dahan ritual (performed on Holi eve) in city's Bhramapuri area.
When people were trying to raise funds for the ritual, some people from the Muslim community started passing objectionable comments which incited the argument.
The Hindu side alleged that on Sunday night when they were trying to raise funds for the Holika Dahan ritual, some youth from the Muslim side started using abusive words saying "... you guys keep begging for donations... take donations from us and convert into Muslim."
In the midst of this dispute, the argument turned violent and soon it converted into stone pelting and attack using glass bottles.
The situation was brought under control when the local police and the paramilitary force intervened. The cops have registered cases against both sides.
Meerut police have registered two FIRs in this case. The first FIR has been lodged on the complaint of a person named Kapil Gupta, who runs a shop in the area, in which he has complained against 41 people including area's councilor Shahzad Mewati, his sons, and relatives. In the FIR, Kapil alleged that the Muslim side entered their homes and assaulted them using sticks and other weapons. Cops have registered a case under IPC sections 307, 343, 506, 509, and among others. A person named Furkan, among another accused, have been arrested.
In another FIR, a case has been registered against 14 people from both the communities who were seen pelting stones.
The violence had erupted in a Muslim-dominant area. Here the number of Hindus is around 900 while that of Muslims is around 4000. The Hindu side has alleged that they are regularly targeted by people from the other community, women are being molested and forced to migrate.
When India TV spoke to area's councilor Shahzad Mewati's sister and sister-in-law, they denied all the accusations levelled by complainant Kapil and termed them baseless.
It is to be mentioned that area's councilor Shahzad Mewati was not present at the scene when the violence broke out.
Speaking on the matter, Meerut SP said, "the accused were intoxicated."
"...there was a fight between both the drunken parties, two main accused have been arrested... it will be clear after investigation whether there was any conspiracy to incite communal riots ahead of Holi... a flag march is being done in the area and security has been increased..." Meerut SP told India TV.
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