The trouble-torn town of Raisen remained peaceful on Saturday as no untoward incidents were reported from the riot-hit city. The town continued to remain under curfew and the school, colleges, markets remained closed.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mukesh Vaishya, while talking to The Pioneer over the phone, said, "The situation is tense but under control. Police action has been initiated against the rioters and arrests of miscreants are still underway. Till now about half a dozen persons have been nabbed by the police."
Notably, communal clashes erupted on Friday evening in the Raisen town located 45 km from here following a dispute over sharing seat in public transport. Several properties were damaged and three people belonging to minority community were injured during the police firing.
According to local sources, a skirmish between Babu Chautaiya, a local Bajrang Dal leader and fellow traveller Naved Khan over seat in local bus led to the clash.
The bus was travelling from Bhopal to Raisen, when the Bus reached its destination, Babu Chautaiya called his supporters and attacked Naved Khan, seriously injuring him. When Naved Khan's family reached City Kotwali police station, Bajrang Dal activists also assembled which led to slogan shouting and sporadic clashes between the two communities inside the station.
Bajrang Dal activists later went on a rampage, ransacking several shops at Sabzi Mandi area of the town where eight shops were looted and six were put on fire. BD activist also attacked vehicles parked at Maha Maya Chowk and bus stand; they even tried to torch a petrol pump in the vicinity.
The Jama Masjid of the Raisen town was also damaged in the clashes. local police resorted to lathicharge and firing to control the mob in which three people belonging to minority community received bullet injuries. The injured have been identified as Manaan Khan, Afsaan Khan and Mateen Khan. They have been shifted to Bhopal and are currently
local police has arrested nearly 24 people from both the communities. Curfew has been put in place in whole town since late Friday night.
Mediapersons have been barred from entering the town. A local resident Advocate Abrar Khan informed that riot which started at 7:30 pm in the evening continued till 10 pm in the night till the curfew was clamped.
Khan further said, "It is Ramzan and we couldn't buy the essential supplies. Due to the curfew, doors of the mosques in the entire town were locked and people could not offer prayers. Rapid Action Force is patrolling the town and has warned us not to come outside of our houses, claiming shoot at site orders."