Communal clash in Phagwara, seven injured; DC orders magisterial probe
PHAGWARA: Tension gripped the town here after a clash between Shiv Sena activists and Muslim men supported by Sikh hardliners, as the two sides pelted each other with stones for over 25 minutes on Friday afternoon. The clash left at least seven people injured, including two cops.
Police failed to pre-empt the clash even as the situation was simmering for a couple of days. It started on Wednesday when Sena activists allegedly used force to shut shops of a few Muslim families during a protest against disruption in Amarnath Yatra.
After Friday prayers, a delegation from the Muslim community was to submit a memorandum to the administration, seeking action against the Sena activists for harassing Muslim traders.
When the prayers were on, Sena activists reached the mosque and started raising anti-Pakistan and ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ slogans. They reportedly also dared the people inside to face them.
People in the mosque came out and both sides exchanged heated words and soon stone-pelting ensued. The volatile situation took a serious turn when a Sikh hardliners turned up to lend support to their Muslim brothern. The Sikh youths were carrying sharp-edged weapons.
POLICE FAILURE?
The cops made no effort to stop the Sena activists from reaching the mosque. It was only after the two sides hurled stones for 25 minutes that a posse of police reached and detained some people from both sides.
“The administration was aware of our programme to submit the memorandum, still only a handful of cops were deployed near the mosque. Are we not citizens of India? Cops deliberately reached late,” said Ubbaish Ur-Rehman, head of the mosque.
Later, senior officers from the administration and the police depatment too visited the spot.
Rajinder Singh, SSP, said Kapurthala DC, Jaskiran Singh, has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the case. “Additional deputy commissioner, Phagwara, will submit a report in three days.”