Communal clashes erupt in Gujarat, one killed
AHMEDABAD: One person was killed after communal clashes broke out in two Gujarat cities on Sunday following stone-pelting on religious processions, police said.
The clashes erupted in the state’s Himmatnagar, about 70 km from Gandhinagar, and Khambhat, about 125 km from the state capital, after a procession, to mark Ram Navmi passed through Muslim-dominated areas, state’s director general of police (DGP) Ashish Bhatia said.
“Incidents of violence were reported after stone-pelting broke out when the Ram Navmi processions passed through Muslim-dominated areas (in the cities). The situation is under control now,” Bhatia said. He added that an “elderly person” died in the clashes in Khambat but his identity was yet to be ascertained.
The DGP added that police had to fire tear gas shells to control mobs that pelted stones at each other and damaged shops and vehicles at both places. Four companies of State Reserve Police (SRP) were deployed to control the situation, officials added.
Karauli violence: Sec 144 imposed in 17 districts Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) has been imposed in 17 districts of Rajasthan for approximately a month in a bid to maintain law and order situation after violence broke out recently during a religious procession in Karauli district, people familiar with the matter said.
Violence broke out in the Karauli district of Rajasthan on April 2 after a stone-pelting incident at a religious procession. Several vehicles and shops were set afire in the communal clash following which curfew was clamped till April 10 with some relaxation in later days.
“So far 23 miscreants have been arrested by the police in connection with the incident that happened during the bike rally being taken out on April 2 on the occasion of Nav Samvatsar in Karauli,” Director General of Police M L Lather told reporters.
(With agency inputs)