Bhopal/Ahmedabad/Ranchi, April 11 (PTI): Violence marred Ram Navami celebrations in parts of the country, with one person killed and 12 others injured at Lohardaga in Jharkhand, while a curfew was clamped following stone pelting and arson in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone city, where more than 80 people have been arrested, officials said on Monday.
One person was also killed in clashes at Khambhat in Gujarat’s Anand district on Sunday and authorities in different states said the situation in the violence-affected areas was under control, while in Madhya Pradesh, the administration launched a demolition drive against “illegal” structures of miscreants who pelted stones at a Ram Navami procession in Khargone.
Khargone’s superintendent of police Siddharth Choudhary received bullet injury and at least 24 others, including six policemen, were also injured in the arson on Sunday during the festival which marks the birthday of Lord Ram, the officials said.
Related Posts:
In Gujarat, police arrested nine people for violence and stone pelting during a Ram Navami procession at Khambhat, while CrPC Section 144 was imposed in Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district, banning gathering of people, following a similar incident there.
A stone-pelting incident was also reported during a Ram Navami procession in Sendhwa town of MP’s Barwani district where a police station in-charge and five others were injured. The situation was later brought under control, according to officials.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) alleged minority community leaders and Left liberals are to be blamed for “attacks” across the country on people celebrating Ram Navami and cautioned them against leading their followers on the path of violence.
In a video message, VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain termed the violence in MP, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi as “unfortunate” and said it is everybody’s responsibility to ensure such incidents do not happen.
In Jharkhand’s Lohardaga, one person died and 12 people suffered injuries following clashes between members of two communities near Hirhi village on Sunday evening after a group of miscreants pelted a Ram Navami procession with stones, district officials said.
Internet services have been suspended in Lohardaga town and prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC imposed in the entire district, Sub-divisional Officer Arbind Kumar Lal said.
Ten motorbikes and a pick-up van were set on fire during the violence, the officials said.
