Curfew was imposed for a few hours on areas falling under four police stations of Varanasi on Monday after a procession by lakhs of seers and locals, who were protesting against lathicharge on sadhus during the immersion of Ganesha idols between September 21 and September 23, turned violent.
Twelve people, including eight policemen, were injured in the violence and arson during the procession, prompting authorities to impose curfew for a few hours on Dashaswamedh, Chowk, Kotwali and luxa police station areas. As many as 29 people were arrested in connection with the incidents of stone-pelting and setting ablaze a police booth, a few shops and a number of other vehicles.
Putting up a brave face, Varanasi DM Rajmani Yadav claimed that the situation is under control and curfew was imposed to maintain law and order in the city.
On Monday around 3 pm, prominent sants addressed a meeting at the Town Hall and led a huge congregation --- Annay Pratikar Yatra --- towards Dashaswamedh, throwing traffic into a disarray. Hundreds of traders in Maidagin and Godowlia areas downed their shutters to join the procession.
Initially the yatra passed peacefully through congested areas of Bulanala, Nichibagh, Chowk, Bansphatak, but as it inched towards Godowlia, the crowd turned violent as police tried to stop them. After a heated exchanges between the protesters and the police, a scuffle ensued. The police led by SSP Akash Kulhari lobbed tear gas shells to create to disperse the protesters. Agitated by the police action, the protesters vented their ire at several vehicles parked in the vicinity.