Curfew was clamped in Vidisha district headquarters on Sunday in the wake of violent clashes following the murder of a Bajrang Dal leader, Deepak Kushwaha.
Kushwaha was murdered allegedly by some persons of another community which led to arson and stone-pelting, prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in the city. The man was allegedly stabbed to death by members of another community over an old enmity on Saturday.
Violence erupted when the body was being brought home after post-mortem examination on Sunday morning. Around three thatched houses were torched. Besides, three persons were injured in the stone-pelting under Kotwali police station area, police sources said.
"Curfew has been imposed in the city limits of the district at around 12.15 pm," Collector Anil Suchari said. "The city is tense and we are bringing the situation under control by asking people to remain indoors," he added.
An hour before clamping the curfew, the district administration imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC. However, when the things didn't improve, the curfew was enforced.
Police on Saturday booked and arrested 13 persons in connection with the murder. Vidisha is the lok Sabha constituency of Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Vidisha Superintendent of Police (SP) DS Choudhary while talking to ‘The Pioneer’ over phone said, “Bajrang Dal town convener Deepak Kushwaha was stabbed to death by some people on Saturday. Members of certain organisations tried to enforce bandh in protest against the murder. Police were forced to use mild force to disperse agitating crowds. Prohibitory orders were imposed last night in the wake of tense atmosphere.”
He said, “Mobs today tried to enforce bandh again this morning and set a few shops on fire after which the district administration imposed curfew.” Choudhary claimed that the situation was under control. Thirteen people have been named accused in the case. Of them, 11 have been detained and that the accused include a Hindu youth, Ajay Rajput. He said the town is tense but under control, and that a couple of instances of stone-pelting had been reported.
Kushwaha, 20, was alone when he was attacked with sharp weapons in Totpura locality. The assailants
reportedly included at least 12 people of another community and one from his own. Kushwaha's relatives took him to the district hospital, where he died of excessive bleeding from his legs.
As news of his death spread, right-wing organisations forced shops in the town to down shutters. The VHP has called a bandh on Sunday, forcing the administration to seek reinforcements from Bhopal.