Aligarh tense as Muslims flee village after man hurt in clash dies

WHEN SHARMA’S BODY REACHED HIS HOUSE, HINDUS GATHERED DEMANDING THE TOILET BE DEMOLISHED AND ONLY THEN THE LAST RITES WILL BE HELD

ALIGARH : Tension prevailed in Majra Nagla Mewati of Khurrampur village here as Ramveer Sharma, who was injured in the communal clash over a mosque toilet last Saturday, died in the hospital on Thursday.

Hindus thronged the postmortem house with three BJP MLAs, former Aligarh BJP mayor and present BJP Aligarh mayoral candidate Rajeev Agarwal all coming out in support. They put the body at Etah Chungi crossing in protest. The jam was lifted only after the administration assured them their demands will be met.

As soon as the news of Sharma’s death spread, the Muslims deserted the village. The administration has deployed heavy force to maintain peace.

On Saturday, a clash erupted over a toilet attached to a mosque in Khurrampur village. Police said Hindus led by Sharma had reached the site to demolish the toilet while Muslims had come out to oppose the act. Sharma’s group opened fire, killing a youth on the spot. Sharma, 50, received a bullet injury in the head as the other group also fired, they said, adding he was admitted to Varun Trauma Centre where he died.

When Sharma’s body reached his house in Praduman Vihar colony, Hindus gathered demanding that the mosque toilet be demolished and only then the last rites will be performed. BJP leaders, too, threatened if the toilet was not razed, tension may increase.

Aligarh DM Rishikesh Bhaskar Yashod told HT, “We have assured the family of action. The documents for demolishing the toilet have been sought from the authorities concerned. A decision will be taken after seeing earlier noting and reports.”