Situation is fast returning to normal in Shajapur town of Madhya Pradesh, after communal riots were reported there two days ago.
After the clashes, the district administration had imposed prohibitory orders under section 174 of the CrPC in the town, but now, it has been clamped only in a particular area.
Communal tension prevailed in Maniharwadi area of Shajapur district on Saturday after members of two communities clashed with each other after an argument over music being played loudly. The clashes led to stone pelting. However, the promptness of police prevented a major communal outbreak and no casualties have been reported a day after the incident. Police arrested 30-35 people in connection with the incident on the basis of CCTV footage and booked them under relevant sections of the IPC.
About half-a-dozen people were injured in the clash, while two cops were injured. In addition, around 10 vehicles were set on fire and a number of shops were vandalised, according to the police. Heavy security forces have been deployed in the area and section 144 of the CrPc was imposed, prohibiting the assembly of four or more people.
Tension had erupted after an argument between the Rajput community (organisers of Maharana Pratap birth anniversary procession) and Muslim youths over lowering the sound of the music.
Shajapur SP Shailendra Singh Chauhan said that when the procession was passing through Nai Sadak, a Muslim-dominated area, a few people requested them to decrease the volume of music being played in the procession. When the volume was not decreased, some Muslim youths allegedly pelted stones on the procession. Situation turned ugly when both the groups started hurling stones on each other, he added.
“The police are arresting people by identifying them on the basis of CCTV footage and videos of the incident,” he added.