Shahpur tense after ‘minor’ issue takes communal turn
12 injured, police rushes to restore peace

Communal violence once again raised its ugly head in the sensitive Shahpur area, when two groups clashed with each other late on Saturday night and Sunday evening.

Twelve people were injured and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Three vehicles were set ablaze by the angry mob.

On Saturday night the police had to fire three rounds of fire and burst more than 52 rounds of tear gas to disperse the groups indulging in heavy stone throwing before the situation came under control.

However, the conflict did not abate and there was a clash between the two communities once again on Sunday evening. The police had to again use tear gas shells to stop the heavy stone pelting.

The situation remained tense in the Shahpur area till late Sunday evening. Police officials have been deployed in the area for intense patrolling.

According to sources in the police department, the dispute started over an incident of a child defecating in the open in the Jagdish Colony compound in Nagorivad area at around 9 pm on Saturday.

Over this incident, some people raised protest and started a fight.

In the meantime, several persons from the opposite group also reached the spot and there was an altercation between the two groups. The altercation took a violent turn and within a short while the area became tense. Furious mobs also set ablaze a Maruti van, a scooter and a Luna.

Top police officials rushed to the spot as soon as they learnt of the incident.

Twelve persons including two SRP jawans sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. In an effort to disperse the angry mob, police was forced to resort to lathi-charge. However, when the situation did not come under control the police burst more than 52 tear gas shells and fired three rounds of gunfire.

No one was injured during the firing. The situation was finally brought under control with heavy police protection.

However, at 6.30 on Sunday, two groups once again resorted to heavy stone throwing and the police once again burst tear gas shells and used gunfire. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident so far.

The Shahpur police has filed a case of rioting and initiated a probe into the incident.

Republished from Asian Age