Another Bihar district gripped by tension
Chief Minister Nitish says ready to ‘pay the price’ to maintain peace in state
Even as authorities battled hard to restore peace, communal clashes spread to yet another district in Bihar yesterday, leaving the ruling Nitish Kumar government in a critical situation. So far, nine districts are reported to be reeling under communal tension in the state.
Communal clashes broke out in Nawada, a south Bihar district, yesterday after the statue of a Hindu deity was found damaged. Police said rival sides resorted to brickthrowing which resulted in an angry mob setting fire to many shops and vehicles.
Sensitive situation
Keeping in view the sensitivity of the situation, anti-riot forces have been deployed in the troubled pockets in large numbers while regular patrolling is on. The local administration has also banned internet services and urged the masses to be wary of controversial posts.
“It was a matter of [a statue] being vandalised by some miscreants which led to the two communities coming face to face, but the situation is under control now,” the local Nawada district magistrate Kaushal Kumar told the media yesterday.
The communal tension Asansol (WB): Prohibitory orders remained in force and internet services suspended here yesterday even as life was limping back to normal in the southern parts of the town, official sources said. Shops and markets opened and vehicles started plying in the southern parts of Asansol, SubDivisional Officer (SDO) P Roychowdhury said, adding that tension still prevailed in the northern parts of the town. There was no fresh incident of violence. Internet services would remain suspended till April 4, the SDO added. which first broke out in Bhagalpur on March 17 has now spread to various districts, such as Aurangabad, Samastipur, Kaimur, Siwan, Munger, Sheikhpura, Nalwada and Nalanda, indicating the seriousness of the situation. At most of the places, tension has broken out after the rival communities played instigating songs or raised provocative slogans.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has issued a stern warning to rioters saying he would deal with them firmly and claiming he was ready to pay any price. “Nitish Kumar never compromises on the law and order and for this we are willing to pay any price,” ruling Janata Dal United lawmaker and party general secretary Shyam Rajak said yesterday.