By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Dhule (Maharashtra): Tension prevailed across Nergaon town in this district in north Maharashtra after a dead swine was discovered from a place of worship leading to heavy police presence in the sensitive areas of the town to protect any untoward incidence.
A case against unknown person under section 295 A of IPC has been registered. Even as there are no reports of incidences of actual violence from the town, people – from both communities – are under fear due to the disturbed religious feelings of the minority community after the discovery of the dead swine on Wednesday. Dhule district, a known communally sensitive region, had witnessed communal riots during January 2013.
Maharashtra police on duty. Photo for representational purpose only. (Courtesy: punesite.com)
Just last week too (January 19), the town had come under similar communal tension, when three Bajrang Dal activists were arrested for indulging in fighting with people of minority community belonging to Tablighi Jamaat, who had gone there to spread Islamic teachings amongst minority people.
Police arrested the Bajrang Dal activists – who were alleged by the minority community to have stopped some people arguing about Azaan and started to fight – to maintain peace and harmony in the town.
“This latest incidence of finding a dead swine in our place of worship ahead of Morning Prayer seems to be well planned to ignite violence in our district,” said a Nergaon local.
Taking note of the vested interest behind the unwanted incidence, Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Singh is personally supervising the investigation of the case and has issued strict directions to different police stations in the vicinity to maintain calm and harmony.
“I have called meetings of peace committees from both the communities to hinder rounds of rumors and to maintain peace in the area,” Singh told reporters, according to a regional paper. “We are investigating the case on a priority to find out who placed the swine in the mosque, with what intention and to which particular group those people belong,” he said.
During the peace meeting, Singh also requested the Tablighi Jamaat to get police permission before going into the areas to preach Islam as it would make their way easy.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Hussain Amir, the new chairperson of Maharashtra Minority Commission spoke with the district police chief and asked for strict action against communal forces trying to disturb peace and harmony there.
After getting the latest details, Amir said even though there was no report of violence from the town, it remained under tension and hence he has asked the district police chief to immediately apprehend anti-social elements behind the unruly incidence.
He also declared that the Commission will visit the town on January 31 and February 1 to understand the situation and to talk with the police in the district.
(With inputs from Urdu Times)