Timely intervention of the police averted a major sectarian violence in Jaunpur, when two groups of the same community clashed over construction of a wall of `Mazar’ on the eve of beginning of Holy Month `Ramzan’, on Thursday afternoon.
Senior officers including district magistrate, who reached the spot somehow managed to convince both the groups that till the court which is already hearing the matter would not give any verdict, they will not make any construction on the disputed site.
Reports said that some members of Shia sect of the Muslims hailing from Abeergarh Tola under Kotwali police station area in Jaunpur, had got a wall constructed on `Bheetha Shahid Baba Ki Mazar’ along with a gate despite of court putting a `stay’, directing that no construction would take place till the court decide the dispute. Reports said that the matter took an ugly turn on Thursdayafternoon, when dozens of leaders belonging to Sunni community gathered and protested the construction. However, the situation became tense, when the members of the Sunni community broke down the wall.
This irked the other side and they both came head to head and clashed with each other. However, the cops reached within minutes and used force to disperse the agitators. They also later held discussions with senior members of both the sects after which the two sides decided that they will wait for the outcome of the decision of the Court in the said matter. One section of jawans of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has been deployed along with local officers to maintained peace.
Meanwhile a clash broke out between the followers of Barelvi and Deobandi sects of Sunni Muslims in Kemri locality of Rampur district over the timing of a religious event. A religious leader of the Deobandi sect, who delivers sermons on Sundays, organised a discourse on Tuesday this time that lasted till 11 at night. This infuriated the Barelvis, who protested the event, police officials said. It later turned into a violent clash and the two groups’ members attacked each other with lathis, pelted stones and vandalized vehicles, Superintendent of Police Sadhna Goswami said. Police brought the situation under control and made them reach an agreement, she said.