Tension prevailed in Gajwel town of Siddipet district on Monday night after a Muslim man was allegedly brutally thrashed and paraded by a group of persons belonging to right-wing organizations after he reportedly relieved himself near a statue of Chatrapathi Shivaji.
The man, who is a local resident, was urinating near the statue when locals noticed it and caught him. The crowd reportedly thrashed him severely, paraded him and handed him to the police.
The local BJP, VHP, and Bajrang Dal members staged a dharna and rasta roko demanding action and a thorough probe against the man. They described it as a planned move to hurt the sentiments of Hindus.
Amid the protest, clashes broke out between the two communities, where a few were injured.
After the incident, the police officials increased patrolling and beefed up security. Meanwhile, shops and commercial establishments have been closed in some parts of Gajwel.
A bandh call was given in Gajwel Town by the Hindu organizations for Tuesday.
In a statement over the incident, Siddipet commissioner of police Swetha, on Tuesday, said that the person who urinated on the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji was arrested.
Separate teams were formed and searches were carried out at different places to trace him.
The CP further said that section 294 (obscenity public places), 294(b) (reciting or uttering obscene song), 295A (outraging the religious feelings of any class) and 504 (punishment for insulting someone intentionally to provoke them) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been imposed on the accused.
Additionally, based on the past complaints received against him he was charged with sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt), 143 (punishment with imprisonment), 149 (unlawful assembly).
The police have also added charges of riot (Section 188) and attempt to murder (Section 307) following the clashes.
Three more people were also arrested in relation to the communal clashes. They have been remanded in custody for 14 days.
Police asserted that those responsible will be apprehended based on the video evidence available against them and requested protestors to maintain peace.
Further investigation into the case is underway.