City sees another bout of clash, 4 hurt
Four persons were injured on Friday when two communities clashed in the minority-dominated Shah Alam area.

Five men intercepted Adam Habib Sheikh, 34, in the wee hours at Bhulabhai Park in Maninagar area and he was beaten up when he was on his way back home on a bicycle after observing Shehri.

Stone-pelting began when Shah Alam Muslims reacted angrily in seeing a bleeding Sheikh. In the ensuing clash, a man on his scooter was stabbed and his scooter burnt while another was hit in the stone pelting.

Maningar police inspector C.R. Vandarvala was also injured by a stone while trying to quell violence.

Social activist Saffi Memon said that Bhalla Bhai Park and others areas falling in Jamalpur assembly constituency is witnessing a spate of violence as byelection to this assembly segment is scheduled on December 1, 2003.

The violence started after November 2 when a maulvi, Murad Sheikh was killed by some local persons. After that persons of minority community have complained of intimidation. This could be a ploy to draw the Dalit votes for the BJP in the forthcoming elections, said Mr Memon. Incidentally, Congress has held the Jamalpur assembly seat for more than a decade.

Initially, police refused to confirm the two stabbing incidents. Being a Friday and Ramzan the situation is extra sensitive and led to this outburst, said a police officer.

Meanwhile, additional commissioner of police incharge of sector II Keshav Kumar said one person who had attacked Sheikh in the wee hours has been arrested. The injured have been admitted to VS and LG hospitals.

Republished from The Asian Age