46 held over Karauli communal tension, curfew continues

THE VIOLENCE BROKE OUT WHEN SOME MISCREANTS PELTED STONES ON A BIKE RALLY

JAIPUR: Curfew continued in Rajasthan’s Karauli on Monday where communal clashes and arson broke out on Saturday, police said. The police have arrested 46 miscreants and detained seven for interrogation.

The violence broke out when some miscreants pelted stones on a bike rally crossing the Muslim dominant area in the city on Saturday. The bike rally was taken out by Hindu outfits on Nav Samvatsar.

Inspector-general of Police (IG), Bharatpur Range, Prasanna Kumar Khamesra said that after stone-pelting took place during the procession in Futa Kot area of the main market in Karauli on Saturday, the police acted promptly and arrested 46 people. The police have also detained seven people for interrogation and seized 21 vehicles.

He said that in view of the sensitivity of the incident, he immediately reached the spot and took stock of the situation along with superintendent of police, Karauli, Shailendra Singh, and deployed necessary police force and RAC from other districts of the range to maintain law and order.

The IG said that to maintain law and order, the situation is being closely monitored by deploying police patrols in the city. A flag march was conducted in the city with the police force. Right now, the situation is under control, but curfew continues in the city as a precaution.

Regarding the motive found during investigation, a senior police official said the arrested are from both communities and so far, it does not look like any conspiracy of any group or outfit. “It seems the incident happened as a reaction to a provocation; and distrust between some people of both communities,” he said. The investigation is on and all aspects are being probed, he added.

A district official on the rally route said this is not the first time that the rally crossed this lane of the market but happens every year. Now, what prompted this incident is a matter of investigation.