Curfew imposed in Malkapur after Communal tension erupts

NAGPUR: Communal tension erupted in Malkapur town of Buldhana district on Monday after two communities clashed over the route of procession which was taken out in area where permission was denied.

At 11 am the motorcycle rally was organised in Malkapur by minority community to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad. Dispute erupted when the rally started moving from Salipura locality, where the administration had denied permission. The dispute had turned into violent clash and the mob started pelting stones.

Police personnel reached the spot immediately. When they tried to intervene an illegaltembeing taken out through a locality dominated by members of a community.

BJP MLA Chainsukh Sancheti, newly-elected Municipal Council chief Adv Rawat, some councillors and 30-40 cops were injured in stone pelting while they were trying to quell the anger between the mob.

Later the Cops resorted to cane charge and burst teargas shells to disperse the unruly mob.Section 144 (prohibition on gathering) was imposed followed by curfew in the evening.

Superintendent of police Sanjay Baviskar said in the evening that “normalcy had been restored and police were arresting the rioters. The police had rounded up around 25 people till the filing of the report but had not booked anybody.”

Collector Zade said that the situation had been brought under control by 12 noon. “The curfew has been imposed only in some parts. There is complete normalcy in other areas,” he added.

MLA Sancheti, whose right leg got fractured blamed SP Baviskar for the communal disturbance. “In view of last year’s tension, I had appealed to the SP not to grant permission to the Eid procession or at least limit the areas from where it would pass. Unfortunately, some politicians told the SP that they would take responsibility of maintaining peace during the procession and look what happened,” he said.