The dispute was between the local people. Later, people from VHP and Bajrang Dal went to the area and shouted slogans to put pressure on the administration, says journalist Javed Alam
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — Communal violence erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city on Friday when firecrackers were thrown inside houses, said a woman victim who was allegedly attacked with a sword.
According to reports, around a dozen people got injured, 15 vehicles were damaged, religious sites were desecrated and stones were pelted during clashes in the Chhatripura area. An auto-rickshaw and car were also set ablaze.
Talking to reporters, Rashida Bi, who was injured in the violence, said the dispute between members of both communities started when firecrackers were thrown inside their homes.
“On the day of Diwali, our house was set on fire. Later, we extinguished it as we did not want to fight. The next day, they started throwing firecrackers in our house. We opposed it saying ‘what kind of behaviour is this?’ Later, about 40 to 50 people were seen brutally beating a boy. When we came out to rescue him, three of us were attacked with swords and other things,” said Rashida Bi.
She said when they went to the police to file a complaint, around 300 people surrounded the police station barring their entry. “These were people from Ravidaspur,” she said. The woman named Suresh Godla, his sons and henchmen as the culprits. “The dispute started only when they were throwing firecrackers in our house. They even set our house on fire,” she said.
She said that three women were seriously injured. The leg of a woman was fractured due to assault. “Women were beaten up by the men,” she said.
The woman stated that they have been waiting to file a complaint with the police along with some documentary proof. But it was delayed deliberately.
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Javed said the chief minister of a state should not make such a statement.
“Should a chief minister make such a statement? He should have thought about it before making any statement…there is a tendency here that Hindu-Muslim colour is being given to every issue. It does not behoove a chief minister to say that he will not tolerate anyone being stopped from bursting firecrackers. Who is stopping anyone,” he asked.
Meanwhile, Indore DCP Rishikesh Meena said that the police have filed two FIRs naming 11 people. On Saturday, four persons Salman, Shanu, Faizal and Nadeem were arrested. The police are also considering invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against 32-year-old Salman.
“Action under NSA was initiated against Salman. While there are no records against him, the action was taken given the gravity of the situation. He was the centre point of the dispute and misbehaved with the minor girl, which escalated the fight. Salman works at a furniture shop. The remaining accused will be arrested soon,” Meena said.
He added that a woman, Aisha, who was involved in the crime, has also been served a notice.
