Even when sleuths of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) already put the state forces on their toes apprehending terror attack in some crowded place during the on-going festival season, state witnesses three communal clashes leaving above a dozen injured on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday morning.
The first major clash broke out on the border of Pratapgarh and Amethi districts when members of two communities clashed over a petty dispute in which about a dozen persons were injured on Tuesday morning. later cases were registered in both Amethi and Pratapgarh districts and 3 persons were also arrested. Heavy police force has been also deployed to avert any further clash.
Reports said that Ajay Thakur, hailing from Silokhar in Amethi, had a tiff with Chand Mohamed, hailing from neighbouring Bhaisana locality of Sangipur in Pratapgarh district, on Tuesday morning. The clash took place just over keeping of milk container on a roadways bus. The matter was somehow resolved but after few hours, both the parties accompanied by members of their community clashed with each other, pelting stones, torching a tractor and some other vehicles, besides opening fire in which persons from both the sides were injured. later the cops intervened and somehow resolved the issue. Senior officers are still camping in the area.
Tension also prevailed in Aligarh when some members of minority community were indulge in heavy stone pelting in which half a dozen persons were injured late on Monday night. Reports said that the members of Valmiki community were carrying out `Shobha Yatra’ when they stopped near Valmiki’s statue at Mohallaganj area under Khair police station to perform puja. As they were worshipping Valmiki, the members of minority community led by Farheen, Riyaz Khan, Wakeel, and others suddenly started pelting stones in which Ram Prakash, Puran, Suresh, and two others all belonging the Valmiki community were injured. later heavy police rushed to the spot and somehow averted a major clash by using force to chase away the trouble makers. The injured were admitted in hospital and heavy police force in camping in the area. No one was arrested by the police in the above clash.
According to reports in the last case reported from Gazipur district, some miscreants damaged idols of a ancient Mahakali temple which triggers communal tension in the area. Crowd gathered in temple after priest and devotes saw damaged idols inside the temple on Tuesday morning. After information, local legislator Sibagatullah Khan also reached at the spot. District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ravi Shankar Chhavi and Kotwal in charge Shri Prakash Tripathi reached at the spot soon after the information and tried to pacify the situation. Temple repair work was later started in presence of police officers and local leaders. SP Ravi Shankar Chhavi said that some miscreants damaged idols of the temple sometime on late Monday night. Police have registered the case after complaint of priest. Chhavi said that anti-social elements had tried to damage communal harmony in the district. He said that repair work was started and devotees can start their worship after evening.