Image: PTI
Shops and establishments owned by the minority community were targeted when violence broke out during a bandh call by Hindtuva groups in Amravati, reported the Indian Express. Ironically the bandh call was given to protest the violence that broke out the previous day, when Raza Academy had called for a bandh to protest persecution of Muslims in Tripura.
Police officials told the publication that they were outnumbered by “a massive gathering of activists of the BJP, Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.” An official told IE, “They gathered at Rajkamal Chowk. A section of this crowd turned violent, burnt two shops, damaged some other shops, burnt vehicles. Almost all the victims are from the minority community,” adding on a chilling note, “It appears that the violence had been planned a day in advance in retaliation for the violence on Friday by some members of the minority community.”
IE further reports that two shops were burnt and another one damaged, while at least four two-wheelers were set on fire. Two shrines were also reportedly damaged.
In all, 60 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence on both Friday and Saturday. Out of the 26 FIRs filed, 15 are related to Saturday’s violence and 11 related to that which took place on Friday.
The curfew that was declared in Amravati city, has now been extended to four nearby towns in the district. These are: Achalpur, Anjangaon, Morsi and Warud. This was to prevent any further spread of violence.Internet services remain suspended in Amravati. This is because protests took place in many parts of rural Maharashtra on Saturday.
Hindustan Times reported that former Maharashtra agriculture minister Anil Bonde, MLC Pravin Pote and Amravati rural BJP president Nivedita Chaudhari were among the BJP leaders detained in connection with Saturday’s violence. A few other party members were also detained in Warud and Shendurjanaghat villages for raising slogans.
Meanwhile, eight battalions of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) were deployed to maintain peace in Amravati. Additional police personnel were also dispatched from neighbouring districts.
Violence first broke out on Friday when Raza Academy called for a bandh in Maharashtra to condemn the alleged violence against Muslims and desecration of mosques in Tripura. Nearly 35,000 people participated in the protest in Amravati on Friday, for which they had not taken prior permission as per the police. Nearly 8,000 of them had gathered outside the District Collector’s office to submit a memorandum. It was when the procession left this spot, that instances of stone pelting were reported from three spots between Chitra Chowk and Cotton Market along the path of the protest march.
The following day, Hindutva organisations called for a bandh to protest Friday’s violence. But far from being peaceful, there was further violence reported on Saturday. Instances of stone pelting and shops being damaged were reported from Rajkamal Chowk area. Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.
However, the situation appeared to have been brought under control on Saturday. “Not a single incident of misconduct took place in the city as all sections of the society cooperated very well in establishing peace in the city,” tweeted Amravati Guardian Minister Yashomati Thakur.
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Violence erupts in Maharashtra after bandh call by Raza Academy
Amravati: Curfew, police lathi charge mark Bandh called by Hindutva groups