Gandhi statue vandalised, culprit’s dad informs cops What led to violence: ‘Govt, intelligence failure’
CALM PREVAILS Curfew relaxed in Hindaun; community leader diffuse situation after tense moments in Pushkar
Two days after the state was rocked by Dalit agitation and a day after tension in Karauli’s Hindaun, the situation remained largely peaceful in the state on Wednesday.
However, a confrontation between members of two communities took place in Ajmer’s Pushkar while a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalised in Rajsamand’s Nathdwara.
Ajmer superintendent of police Rajendra Singh said on Wednesday members of a nonDalit group passed some remarks at a group of Dalits who were returning from Pushkar Sarovar. “The latter had gone to take a dip in the holy Sarovar after performing the last rites of one of their community members,” said Singh.
Police said there was a brawl between the two groups following which more persons from the non-Dalit groups amassed and tried to shut shops. The situation turned tense and markets were closed following the incident.
Besides the massive force deployment, the police also engaged leaders of the two communities to neutralise the tension. “Leaders of both the communities agreed to work towards normalising the situation after talks,” said Mahaveer Sharma, station house officer, Pushkar.
In another development, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Valmiki Colony in Nathdwara was vandalised by some miscreants late on Tuesday night. The statue
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was found with its head severed and stones placed near the statue were also vandalised.
The incident came to light after passers-by informed the police about the mishap on Wednesday morning. The police arrested three persons in connection with the crime later in the day. The arrests were made after father of one of the accused informed the police about his son’s involvement in the act.
Besides, security forces carried out a flag march in Hindaun and Jalore on Wednesday to restore the confidence of the common people. Curfew has been relaxed from 1 pm to 6 pm. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC, however, remained in place in some parts of the district and internet services also remained suspended in some parts.
The curfew was clamped in Hindaun on Tuesday after a mob of nearly 5,000 people set ablaze houses of sitting MLA Rajkumari Jatav and former MLA Bharosilal Jatav in the city.
About 185 cases were registered in the past three days for rioting, vandalism and arson and over 1000 people were arrested on various charges.
The Dalit groups had called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Monday demanding restoration of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to its original form.
The Supreme Court had, on March 20, diluted certain provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act in a bid to protect honest public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act.
State Congress senior vice president Vishvendra Singh on Wednesday blamed the BJP at the Centre and state for its failure to control Dalit agitators who damaged public property during the agitation on April 2.
Addressing mediapersons in Bharatpur over communal violence spreading, especially in Hindaun city during the agitation, Singh demanded that action be taken against officials for negligence. The state government had no idea about the violent agitation, he said.
“Pelting stones at chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s house in Dholpur shows that the people of state are angry with BJP-led government in the state.”
He further said that legal action should be taken against the protesters who were involved in spreading violence during the agitation not matter if they belong to the SC\ST community or the upper castes.
Urging people to beware about anti-social elements who provoke riots, Singh said the intelligence machinery of the state government failed to gather information about the number of gatherings of the protesters. The agitation of SC\ST community was launched through the social media and the state government should have scotched rumors from spreading on social media, he said.
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