Curfew remained in force in violence-hit Bokaro on Saturday following an attack on Ramnavmi procession last night. At least 25 people were arrested in connection with the incidents of stone-pelting, firing and setting ablaze of vehicles on NH 23 near Siwandih in Bokaro on Friday night.
“An FIR was lodged against 2,000 people responsible for outbreak of communal violence on Friday and 25 miscreants of both sides were arrested,” said Bokaro DSP (headquarters) Sunil Kumar.
“We are screening the video footage to identify more people who were responsible for Friday’s trouble and cops are on hunt to arrest others,” added the DSP.
“The situation is now peaceful and under control; additional police forces were deployed under several police stations,” he added.
“No incident was reported on Saturday. Curfew is in force and is being enforced strictly,” DC Bokaro RM Ray said.
“We are taking every step to bring the situation to normalcy at the earliest. It has been directed that action should be taken against whosoever is found guilty,” the DC added.
Curfew was in force in areas under four police stations, including City police station, Balidih, Marafari and Sector 12 police station of Bokaro Steel City following an attack on Ramnavmi procession on NH23 near Siwandih in Bokaro district on Friday night.
Several people, including cops and scribes were injured when a clash erupted between the two communities during procession. Both the sides indulged in heavy stone pelting and opened fire, police said.
Meanwhile, life is coming back on track at Keredari in Hazaribagh after the communal clashes during Ramnavmi procession on Friday. No untoward incident took place on Saturday and people began their routine business.
After Friday’s incident, a meeting of the peace committee was organised on the premises of Keredari PS on Saturday in which MlA Nirmala Devi and SP Akhilesh Jha participated along with a large number of citizens of the block. It was unanimously resolved in the meeting that police forces along with magistrates will remain deputed at the sensitive sites of the block for some days more and peace loving denizens will inform about the activities of notorious elements to the police and local administration.
According to sources, one person lost his life while more than two dozen got severe injuries in yesterday’s incident. All the injured have been referred to RIMS, Ranchi for better treatment. The district administration has started enquiring into the matter and, according to sources, the senior officials have assured to give compensation to those who have lost their houses and shops during the incident.