Violence erupts after accident in Agra
Agra suffers this time as the spectre of caste and communal conflict came back to haunt the Hindi heartland.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: The spectre of caste and communal conflict came back to haunt the Hindi heartland as two traditionally sensitive urban pockets, Agra in Uttar Pradesh and Gohana in Sonepat district in Haryana, bore the brunt of mob fury for quite some time.
While in Gohana, the murder of a Dalit youth by Jats resurrected fears of a full-blown caste conflict, the violence in Agra took a communal turn when Muslims and Hindus came face-to-face after a truck overran four youths of the minority community. However, timely intervention by the district administration prevented a flare-up.
The Muslim youths were on their way to participate in the Shab-e-Baraat procession when they were crushed to death by a truck on the busy MG Road at around 2.30 am. This provoked the members of the minority community who were out on the streets.
“Blinded by fury, the mob started pelting stones and torching vehicles that came their way,” DIG (Agra range) Kamal Saxena told ET.
The violence soon spread to adjoining thanas, including Mantola and Nai-Ki-Mandi, localities which have had a history of communal troubles and have always been considered sensitive.
“Rumours that members of the minority community were looting and ransacking the shops owned by the majority community forced the Hindus to come out on the streets. Pitched battles were fought between the members of the two communities in the dark, narrow lanes of these localities,” another senior police official said.
The situation was brought under control by Wednesday morning. At the end of it all, scores of vehicles, including 17 trucks and several police vans, were found to have been burnt.
“One person died and several persons, including 50 policemen, were injured in the violence,” the DIG said. Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the entire city and schools and colleges given three days’ holiday.
While in Gohana, the murder of a Dalit youth by Jats resurrected fears of a full-blown caste conflict, the violence in Agra took a communal turn when Muslims and Hindus came face-to-face after a truck overran four youths of the minority community. However, timely intervention by the district administration prevented a flare-up.
The Muslim youths were on their way to participate in the Shab-e-Baraat procession when they were crushed to death by a truck on the busy MG Road at around 2.30 am. This provoked the members of the minority community who were out on the streets.
“Blinded by fury, the mob started pelting stones and torching vehicles that came their way,” DIG (Agra range) Kamal Saxena told ET.
The violence soon spread to adjoining thanas, including Mantola and Nai-Ki-Mandi, localities which have had a history of communal troubles and have always been considered sensitive.
“Rumours that members of the minority community were looting and ransacking the shops owned by the majority community forced the Hindus to come out on the streets. Pitched battles were fought between the members of the two communities in the dark, narrow lanes of these localities,” another senior police official said.
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The situation was brought under control by Wednesday morning. At the end of it all, scores of vehicles, including 17 trucks and several police vans, were found to have been burnt.
“One person died and several persons, including 50 policemen, were injured in the violence,” the DIG said. Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the entire city and schools and colleges given three days’ holiday.
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