Clashes broke out between two communities over a “controversial” Gujarati song being played on loudspeakers during the Ganesh idol immersion procession on Sunday.
Image Courtesy: Indian Express
Anand: Situation is tense in Anand district in Gujarat after a deputy village sarpanch succumbed to injuries he received in a communal clash that took over the village last Sunday.
A heavy police force with around 100 personnel including State Reserve Police was deployed at Kherda village of Anand district on Wednesday after the death which had resulted in tension in the area.
“According to the police, an altercation took place between members of two communities on Sunday during a Ganesh idol immersion procession. The situation, however, spiralled out of control on Monday when a clash took place between the two communities allegedly over a “controversial” Gujarati song being played on loudspeakers during the immersion procession on Sunday. Police had immediately rushed to the spot and contained the situation. The procession then went ahead peacefully,” reported Indian Express.
“Members of the two communities came face to face again on Monday night, and entered into heated arguments following which the mobs became violent. According to the police, the mobs, armed with wooden sticks and iron rods, attacked each other. A car and an autorickshaw were set ablaze and other vehicles were damaged. In the violence, deputy sarpanch of Kherda village, Mahendra Bhoi, was severely injured after being hit by an iron rod on his head. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment,” the report said.
Six persons from a minority community were arrested by Local Crime Branch of Anand police on Thursday in connection with the clashes. “The police FIR had named 24 accused — 12 belonging to the Muslim community and 12 from the Hindu community — for the clashes. Those arrested have been identified as Farooq Malek (34), Manwar Malek (57), Firoz Khan (33), Salim Malek (29), Rehmat Malek (20) and Imitiazmiyaan (28),” reported Indian Express.
The accused have been booked under IPC sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149, 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 307 (attempt to murder), 435 (Criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) and 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees). After Bhoi’s death, an additional charge of murder under IPC section 302 was pressed.