Clashes erupted in three major cities of the State on Tuesday following differences between two communities on petty issues that sparked tension across the State.
The Capital city witnessed clashes in the afternoon at the busiest MG Marg (Main Road) when a group playing ‘objectionable songs’ was stopped and thrashed by a handful of youths from another community near Iqra Masjid.
In Gomia of Bokaro district, angry mob clashed with police injuring several people, including the SDPO, while in Jamshedpur a middle aged man was beaten with sticks allegedly for trafficking cows and was later saved by the police.
On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, a group of 40 odd people was removing flags from squares and major points of the Capital city and was playing some songs that were not liked by people of another community, said locals. When the group reached Iqra Masjid, they were stopped by a handful of men and clashes began, they added.
Residents added that soon the news spread like wildfire and the two groups started pelting stones on each other and some people also got injured. Meanwhile, security forces led by Senior SP Kuldeep Dwivedi and Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar came on the road to tackle the situation. Police also had to use mild force on the angry mob, though no serious injuries were reported during the clash.
As shops and establishments started closing down their shutters on busy areas of the city, the situation was controlled after an hour-long ordeal. Senior officials were camping in the area till late evening with presence of heavy force along the MG Marg.
Dwivedi said that the situation was under control and forces were deployed under precautionary measure. “I request everyone not to pay heed to rumours and help restore peace in the city so that no such incident takes place in future,” he added.
Meanwhile, in Gomia block of Bokaro district, tension erupted in Saram locality after a decomposed body part of a calf was recovered near a Hanuman temple on Tuesday afternoon. local residents, including members of some groups gathered at Saram and alleged that it was an attempt to hurt their sentiments. They soon resorted to stone pelting on members of another community.
Clashed began at Saudagar in Saram area, which continued till evening and left SDPO, Tenughat Raj Kumar Mehta, two police jawans Nageshar Ram, Awdhesh Prasad Ram and a few others injured, police said.
According to sources, the mob did not allow police to take the calf’s head for further investigation and tried to escape with it to temple .They wanted to take it to under custody and when the police tried to stop them, they began to pelt stones and also vandalised shops, many of which were torched, said SDPO, Raj Kumar Mehta.
Bokaro Range DIG, Saket Kumar Singh said the injured were given treatment in hospital and some people were detained from the spot. “Police are investigating the entire incident and attempts are being made to identify how the disturbances started. Police want to assure the residents that we will take timely action as far as enforcement of law relating to cow slaughter is concerned. People should not try to create disturbance over this. Those found trying to disturb the law and order situation in the area, will face stern action” the DIG added.
Bokaro SP YS Ramesh said the police patrolling in the area has been increased to prevent an untoward incident. “Some residents and activists of Bajrang Dal claimed that butchers in the neighbourhood had left the head there to hurt religious sentiments. Police, however suspect that the head was dragged into the area from forest animals,” he said.
Meanwhil ein Jamshedpur, members of Gau Rakshak Samiti thrashed an old man suspected to be smuggler of cow on Monday. The incident took place at Telco Plaza Market. The members caught him tied him to a pole and beat them up with sticks.The victim was identified as Babu a resident of Barinagar. The Telco police reached the spot and rescued him.