Chomu tense after communities clash over religious procession
TNN | Mar 25, 2019, 09:18 IST
Stones scattered on street after members of two communities clashed in Chomu town on Sunday. The police deploy... Read MoreJAIPUR: Chomu town turned into a security fortress after heavy stone-pelting that followed a heated argument between members of two communities over a religious procession on Sunday. While eyewitnesses claimed that a couple of persons have been injured in the incident, none of them have been reported to the police.
The law and order situation in the town, which is 33km from the capital, became tense and forced Jaipur police commissioner Anand Srivastava to rush to disturbed areas with additional forces. By evening, Srivastava told TOI that the situation was under control.
According to police officials, a procession comprising about 100 people was heading towards a place of worship at 10.30am as part of a ritual to prepare for the main event scheduled on April 5. Members of another community opposed the rally passing through their narrow alleys.
"For the past two days, there had been an argument between the two communities related to the route of the procession. One community insisted on taking the same route that it had been taking in the past. Representatives of the other community opposed this," said a local resident who did not wish to be identified.
On Sunday morning, when the procession was passing through the old congested route, the locals opposed it. The two sides soon clashed with each other and started pelting stones. Local shopkeepers and traders downed their shutters as soon as the fight broke out in the area.
People closed their doors and passersby, who were unaware of the conflict, got injured in the stone-pelting. Stones hit the vehicle that was carrying DJ speakers.
Cops were called in to control the situation
Jaipur: Reserve police teams were called into the area. A large number of policemen from nearby police stations also rushed to the spot. The two sides were soon pushed back and the sitution was brought under control.
Later, several rounds of meetings were held between senior police officers and representatives of both communities. By the evening, several reserved platoons were deployed in every nook and corner of the area as a preventive measure.
Additional commissioner of police (law and order) Ajay Pal Lamba said that some people might have been injured in stone-pelting but no one has approached the police yet. “Some cars were damaged. The procession was later peacefully escorted to the destination by the police,” he said.
“We are on the guard to avert any escalation. Talks will be held for organising the April 5 event too peacefully,” Lamba said.
The law and order situation in the town, which is 33km from the capital, became tense and forced Jaipur police commissioner Anand Srivastava to rush to disturbed areas with additional forces. By evening, Srivastava told TOI that the situation was under control.
According to police officials, a procession comprising about 100 people was heading towards a place of worship at 10.30am as part of a ritual to prepare for the main event scheduled on April 5. Members of another community opposed the rally passing through their narrow alleys.
"For the past two days, there had been an argument between the two communities related to the route of the procession. One community insisted on taking the same route that it had been taking in the past. Representatives of the other community opposed this," said a local resident who did not wish to be identified.
On Sunday morning, when the procession was passing through the old congested route, the locals opposed it. The two sides soon clashed with each other and started pelting stones. Local shopkeepers and traders downed their shutters as soon as the fight broke out in the area.
People closed their doors and passersby, who were unaware of the conflict, got injured in the stone-pelting. Stones hit the vehicle that was carrying DJ speakers.
Cops were called in to control the situation
Jaipur: Reserve police teams were called into the area. A large number of policemen from nearby police stations also rushed to the spot. The two sides were soon pushed back and the sitution was brought under control.
Later, several rounds of meetings were held between senior police officers and representatives of both communities. By the evening, several reserved platoons were deployed in every nook and corner of the area as a preventive measure.
Additional commissioner of police (law and order) Ajay Pal Lamba said that some people might have been injured in stone-pelting but no one has approached the police yet. “Some cars were damaged. The procession was later peacefully escorted to the destination by the police,” he said.
“We are on the guard to avert any escalation. Talks will be held for organising the April 5 event too peacefully,” Lamba said.
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