1 dies in Akola as online post over ‘The Kerala Story’ triggers clash

NAGPUR: Police remained alert across the state after one person was killed and another eight, including two cops, were injured in a clash between two communities at Hariharpeth in Akola on Saturday. The clash was triggered after police failed to stop a riot following a social media post on the movie ‘The Kerala Story’.
Akola district collector Nima Arora has invoked Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrpC), imposed curfew in riot-prone pockets and shut internet services for 36 hours along with implementing some ‘special restrictions’.
Sources stated that the state police top brass immediately instructed SPs and CPs across the state to remain on high alert and be vigilant against any communal flare-ups or messages.
BJP MLA Randhir Savarkar said that deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, also the state home minister, immediately intervened to divert adequate police force from Amravati and senior officers from other places to bring the situation under control.
Outnumbered Akola cops caught on the wrong foot
Some communities had created special WhatsApp group to spread hatred. Police were outnumbered by a mob which attacked another community. There was intelligence failure for sure," Randhir Savarkar alleged.
Devendra Fadnavis's office stated that around 30 persons have been arrested so far. The DyCM claimed that the situation is peaceful now and he is constantly monitoring the developments, while coordinating with the state director general of police.
Vilas Gaikwad, a 40-year-old electrician. was killed as rioters pelted stones at each other. Slamming the ruling party in the state and police, four-time corporator Sajid Khan Pathan alleged, "The man was killed just because he was seated in an auto-rickshaw displaying religious symbol of another community. A shrine was burned in police presence at the riot hotspot."
Pathan also said, "Who is behind the repeated communal tension in Akola in the recent times, followed by lackadaisical approach of police?"
On Saturday night, a mob had thronged Ramdaspeth police station in Akola alleging insult of prophet and a community in a chat on Instagram following a post on 'The Kerala Story'. While the process of registering an offence was underway, another group rushed to the Old city police station.
According to sources, some rioters rushed out of the Old City police station in anger after not being able to lodge complaint or get police support. They headed towards a shrine and ransacked the locality, damaging several vehicles. They also barged into houses of other communities and damaged an electrical distribution board too, as per sources.
Despite having encountered a similar situation at Akot File area a few days ago, Akola cops were caught on the wrong foot even as rioters started clashing, damaging properties, vehicles and also targeting shrines and residences.
Collector Nima Arora said the curfew has been imposed at selected places under few police stations (Old city police station, Ramdaspeth, Datki and City Kotwali) from 2am on Sunday. "Internet services were shut from Sunday noon for the next 36 hours after which a review will be taken," said Arora adding that the restrictions would not be applicable to students having examinations.
The collector also said she would be soon sending a proposal to the government for grant of Rs four lakh compensation to the riot victim's family. "We can also moot proposal for compensation to the injured too," she said.
"The victim did not belong to any outfit or organization or any party. He was a commoner," said SP Sandeep Ghughe adding that police have taken strict and prompt actions whenever any complaint is received.
On Sunday, IG Cherring Dorje chaired an all-party and community meetings in Akola.
Sanjay Saxena, additional DG, law and order, said the state police are on toes round the clock.