Utnoor (Adilabad): A 25-year-old Muslim fruit vendor is responsible for the tension that prevailed in Utnoor mandal of Adilabad district since yesterday after an audio clip defaming a particular community was circulated on social media.
Tension broke out after the Muslim fruit vendor of Utnoor allegedly sent a four-minute-long voice message offended a community through WhatsApp messaging platform that went viral.
As the culprit was not arrested, the aggrieved community members approached police and filed a complaint yesterday demanding immediate arrest and action against the culprit.
Members of VHP, Hindu Vahini, Hindu Utsava Samithi and Shiv Sena staged a protest outside the police station, while returning, they set ablaze hoardings and flexies of some shops belonging to the members of Muslims community, said police.
“Both the groups pelted stones at police, while one group demanded arrest of the accused who circulated the clip, the other wanted action to be taken against those who set ablaze hoardings of their shops,” Karimnagar Range DIG C Ravi Varma told PTI.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g2-bqOdYeM
To disperse the mob, the police used tear gas shells attempting to bring the situation under control.
Two senior officials were injured when members belonging to two different communities pelted stones at police.
“Adilabad SP M Srinivas, Dy SP A Laxminarayana sustained injuries in stone pelting,” said the DIG.
“Eighteen persons have been arrested for pelting stones at policemen. The situation is under control now,” Ravi Varma said.
Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the area to avoid untoward incident, the official added.