Amravati (Maharashtra), April 19 : Curfew was clamped after members of two communities pelted each other with stones over the removal of religious flags in Achalpur city in Amravati district of Indian state Maharashtra. The police responded by firing tear gas shells, officials said. Additional Superintendent of Police, Shashikant Satav, said that 22 persons from both the groups have been taken into custody after the incident. The exact number of injured persons is not known yet.
Police said residents put up flags of various religions atop the Khidki Gate and the Dulha Gate at the main entrance of Achalpur, located 48 kilometre away from Amravati district headquarters, every year during various festivals.
"On Sunday midnight, some anti-social elements removed some religious flags, leading to an altercation which escalated into stone-pelting. Police used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd," a police inspector said. However, the timely intervention by State Reserve Police Force and local police brought the situation under control, he added.
Meanwhile, thirty persons were arrested in connection with a saffron flag being placed atop a Muslim dargah in Veraval town in Indian state Gujarat’s Gir Somnath during an unauthorised Hanuman Jayanti procession , a senior police official said .
The incident took place at Magrebisha Bapu dargah in Vakhariya Bazar area and several of those involved had also taken mobile phone videos of the act and circulated them on social media, Gir Somnath Superintendent of Police Manoharsinh Jadeja said.