Two persons were killed and 50 others injured, while 100 shops and at least 50 vehicles were torched when riots broke out in different parts of Maharashtra’s Aurangabad city during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
What began as clashes between two groups over an illegal water tap connection at Motikaranja locality at around 10 pm on Friday led to wide-spread rioting in many parts of the historic city of Aurangabad in Marathwada region of Maharashtra during the next six to seven hours.
Having brought the situation under control around noon on Saturday, the authorities have arrested 16 persons in connection with the riots. Simultaneously, the police invoked section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting assembly of four or more persons in several parts of the city. They also suspended internet services in some parts of the city.
A 17-year-old boy was among the two persons killed in the disturbances. Another elderly person was killed in a gas cylinder explosion that took place in a shop that was set on fire by rioters.
The injured comprised 10 policemen. They included Shripad Paropakari, an Inspector attached to the Krati Chowk police station.
Reports reaching here from Aurangabad said that at least 100 shops and “50 to 60” two and four-wheelers were torched. Among the torched vehicles were three police jeeps. At least two houses collapsed in the arson indulged in by the miscreants.
Talking to media persons in Pune, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said: “The situation has been brought under control in Aurangabad. Efforts are on to bring about unity among the members of the two communities. We will act sternly against all those who indulged in rioting. Meanwhile, I appeal to the people not to believe in any rumours”.
Trouble began at around 10 pm on Saturday when two groups clashed at Motikaranja locality over an illegal water tap connection. After two groups clashed, incidents of arson were reported from Gandhinagar and Motikaranja. Before, information about the two incidents went viral on the social media.
An hour later, one more group clash was reported from Shahganj locality. The two groups or rioters hurled stones at one another. They also set ablaze some vehicles. The police who arrived on the scene sought to bring situation under control. At around 2 pm, incidents of arsons were reported from lota Karanja, Gandhi statue area, Nawabpura and Nizamuddin chowk area.
The police resorted to lathi-charge and burst tear gas shells in the riot-torn areas. A 17-year-old was injured when the police fired using plastic bullets. The severely wounded boy was rushed to the MGM Hospital
Aurangabad witnessed one more round of arson at Motikaranja, Cholipura, Manjurapura and Shahganj localities at around 4 am on Saturday after a transformer caught fire, resulting in the entire city plunging into darkness.
While the first round of clashes took place over an illegal water tap connection, the cause for the subsequent rioting was not immediately known. The police said that the worst-hit areas were Shahganj, Nawabpura, Rajabazaar and Angoribaug.
Meanwhile, units of Indian Reserve Batallion (IRB) and companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) has been deployed in the Aurangabad city and neighbouring areas. Companies of SRPF have also rushed from the neighbouring districts of Beed and Jalna.
Meanwhile, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Asaduddin Owaisi urged the chief minister to take action against the miscreants who indulged in riots.
ATTN“Communal Riot Aurangabad, shops have burned ,report of death 1 person due to police firing shops near Shahganj Masjid, Angori Bagh ,Nawabpura damaged @CMOMaharashtra should order a probe especially the role Racchu PAHElWAN , send additional forces Peace must prevail @imtiaz_jaleel,” Owaisi tweeted.
“I have requested Advocate Khizar Patel to ensure that people whose shops are burned/damaged must give a complaint to concerned PS & get FIR registered ,MIM party Will inshallah provide Aid & relief through its MIM relief Trust but request people to maintain peace,” Owaisi added.