By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal : Indefinite curfew has been imposed in a small township of Madhya Pradesh following communal clashes between two communities wherein one person was killed as per official announcement on Monday.
However, according to unconfirmed reports the death toll is said to be four in the clashes. The identities of those killed could not be ascertained. The situation is stated to be very tense but under control following the imposition of curfew. About a dozen people have been injured in the clashes while 30-35 persons have been arrested so far.
According to district administration the incident occurred in Khategaon township in Dewas district, about 70 km from Bhopal, when some people playing Holi, a Hindu festival of sprinkling colors, were attacked by a group of people allegedly belonging to Muslim community.
Another version of the incident is that, according to sources, a Muslim girl was abducted by a Hindu boy sometime back. One Hamza Khan, a member of the aggrieved family incensed by the disappearance of the girl attacked the family members of the boy who were indulging in Holi revelry.
Prior to clamping of curfew prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Indian Penal Code (joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon) was imposed in Khategaon following the clash. However, this did not help in controlling the highly volatile situation as clashes continued and mob indulged in arson wherein more than half a dozen of houses and shops of Muslims were burnt down. Thereafter, curfew was imposed in the evening at about 6 pm.
[Photo by outlookindia]