211 arrested after communal clashes in Jodhpur before Eid

JAIPUR: As many as 211 people have been arrested in connection with the communal clashes in Jodhpur before Eid. The police asserted that the situation in the city was under control.

A curfew clamped in the city following the violence continued for the third day on Thursday.

The police have appealed to the people to maintain peace, not believe in rumours and inform the officials about any rumour being spread.

DGP ML Lather said, “so far 211 people have been arrested for disturbing peace and harmony. As many as 191 people have been arrested under IPC section 151, and 20 others under other sections”.

The tension broke out in Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot’s constituency Jodhpur on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, ahead of Eid-ul-fitr, over the installation of ‘Islamic’ flags on the Jalori gate circle, as members of the other community alleged that a saffron flag, which they had put up there ahead of Parshuram Jayanti, had gone missing.

The issue snowballed into stone-pelting and clashes. The situation was brought under control in the early hours on Tuesday with heavy deployment of police but tensions escalated again in the morning after Eid prayers.

Shops, vehicles and houses were pelted with stones near the area. Looking at the situation, a curfew was imposed in 10 police station areas of Jodhpur city.