By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Bhopal: Communal clashes erupted Friday evening in the Raisen town of Madhya Pradesh located 45 km from capital Bhopal over small dispute of seat sharing in public transport. Bajrang Dal run riot left several properties damaged with three Muslims receiving bullet injuries in the police control firing.
According to local sources a skirmish between Babu Chautaiya a local Bajrang Dal leader and fellow traveler Naved Khan over possession of seat in local bus led to communal clashes.
The Bus was travelling from Bhopal to Raisen, when the Bus reached its destination Babu Chautaiya called his supporters and attacked Naved Khan seriously injuring him. When Naved Khan’s family reached City Kotwali police station, Bajrang Dal activists also assembled which led to slogan shouting and sporadic clashes between two communities inside the station.
Bajrang Dal activists later went on rampage ransacking several shops at Sabzi Mandi area of the town where eight shops were looted and six were put on fire. BD activist also attacked vehicles parked at Maha Maya Chowk and Bus stand; they even tried to torch a petrol bunk in the vicinity.
The Jama Masjid of the Raisen town was also damaged in the clashes.
Local police restored to Lathi charge and firing to control the clashing mob in which 3 Muslims received bullet injuries. The injured identified as Manaan Khan, Afsaan Khan and Mateen Khan have been shifted to Bhopal and is currently undergoing treatment at Hamidia Hospital.
Local police has arrested nearly 24 people from both the communities in violence related cases. Curfew has been put in place in whole town since late last night.
Mediapersons have been barred from entering into the town. A local resident Sayeed Nada, speaking with TCN over phone, told that riots which started at 7:30 p.m in the evening continued till 10:p.m in the night till the curfew was clamped.
“It is Ramzan and we couldn’t buy the essential supplies. Due to curfew doors of the mosques in whole town were locked and people were not allowed to offer any prayer. Rapid Action Force is patrolling the town and warning us not to come outside of our house, claiming shoot at site orders,” Mr. Sayeed told TCN.