Khargone, April 13 : Even as curfew continues in Indian state Madhya Pradesh, Hindutva torched four vehicles and a garage in Khargone city. While the curfew is in force in Khargone since Sunday evening, some anti-social elements set ablaze three buses, a car and a garage in the city’s Mechanic Nagar area on Monday night, Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Chourasia said.
An eyewitness said the Ram Navami procession started on Sunday from Talab Chowk area with a DJ music system playing loudly anti-Muslim and loud music was being played in front of a mosque when Muslims were offering prayers which later the situation turned violent.
Khargone Collector Anugraha P said, “The curfew continues in the city. People were given relaxation only for urgent medical needs.” She said the exams of undergraduate and post-graduate courses in Khargone have been postponed in view of the curfew.
CLASHES START BETWEEN POLICE & HINDUS, BUT END UP WITH THE ARREST OF MUSLIMS AND DEMOLITION OF THEIR HOUSES in KHARGONE
Bhopal ,April 13 With the arrest of at least 95 people (majority of them are Muslims), riot-torn Khargone town in Indian state Madhya Pradesh is still under curfew and an easy calm is prevailing in the region.
The violence broke out during the Ram Navami processions after locals objected to the provocative musics being played loud on DJ near a mosque at Talab Chowk.
The incident left more than a dozen of people, including Khargone superintendent of police, injured. Close to 10 houses and religious places were set ablaze.
Eyewitnesses said the organisers of procession organised by the Hindutva Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Hindu Jagran Manch insisted that they would take a route, which passes from inside the Muslim settlement on one side of the main road. The police refusal to allow them to change the route enraged participants of the procession. The Hindutva parties began pelting stones on police personnel,” he continued.
It was time for namaz (prayer) and azaan (a call to prayer) was made for the congregational prayer from the mosque. Therefore, people Muslims were also gathered at the mosque.
“Few stones also landed at the mosque. It agitated the Muslim crowd, which also retaliated,” said another eyewitness.
“We brought the situation under control in 15 minutes by firing tear gas shells and resorting to mild lathi charge,” a senior police officer told media men.
The Hindutva procession was once again made to move ahead slowly towards Muslim majority. Police lobbed several tear gas shells to clear the crowd on both sides.
It was evening when the Hindus and Muslims once again came face to face near the mosque at Talab Chowk. Taking advantage of the darkness, someone from the crowd fired at the SP who was shot at his leg.
“I got shot in the leg. At first I thought it was a stone. I had trouble walking, so I stood on the side. Later, I realised it was a gunshot injury. There was an excessive bleeding. I began shouting. It was necessary because every street leading to the trisection was crowded. There were 300-400 people on one side, while the other side had 400-600 people. Meanwhile, an additional police force arrived at the spot. My gunman was also hit with stones. Blood was pouring out of his head. Despite being injured, he took me to the hospital,” said the top cop.
Locals said there was a bigger plan, which could not be executed properly. “The SP was fired at with the help of desi katta (locally made pistol). Had the bullet hit the police officer on the target, the onus would have been put on Muslims and a large scale crackdown launched against the community,” suggested the conspiracy theory.
Less than 24 hours after the violence, the local administration demolished houses and shops of the Muslims in Khargone. agencies