A minor scuffle over bill payment at a dhaba two days earlier has escalated into full-scale communal tension in Nawada. Curfew was imposed in the district on Monday after clashes between two groups left one person dead and five others — including two police personnel — injured.
District Magistrate Adesh Titirmare said the situation was tense but under control. Anti-socials attacked Bundelkhand Police Station with bombs and stones. They also opened fire in the town. Mobs also defied the curfew by pelting stones.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has appealed all sections of the society to help maintain peace and harmony.
Besides jawans of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Special Armed Police (SAP), additional contingents of Central paramilitary forces have been deployed. Principal Secretary (Rural Works) B Rajendra, along with the IG and DIG of Magadh range are camping in Nawada to monitor the situation.
Provocation for the clashes was the death of one among the three injured in police firing on Saturday. All of them were admitted to Patna Medical College & Hospital with serious injuries. The police had opened fire when two groups had armed clashes following a tiff at a dhaba on National Highway 31 near Gondpur locality.
Though the administration had largely brought the situation under control by imposing prohibitory orders and taking other quick measures, trouble-makers on Monday once again took to the streets.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said stern action would be taken against trouble-makers in Nawada. He pointed out that some people were trying to create an atmosphere of intolerance in the State but his Government will not allow them to succeed. He did admit, though, that the situation was not normal in Nawada.
“We will not allow anybody to trigger communal riots and we should also not indulge in leveling allegations against each other. Communal disturbance is a sensitive matter and it will be dealt with accordingly,” he added.