By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Two persons were killed and four others were injured in a communal clash in Pusad region of Yavatmal district of Maharashtra on Friday evening. Curfew has been imposed in the area.
As per the Urdu media reports the trouble began when a mob of 15 to 20 thousand participants of Ram Navmi procession started playing the controversial CD ‘Mandir Waheen Banayen Ge’ (We will build the temple {Ram Mandir} at the very place {Ayodhya})loudly before Masjid-e-Muhammadia at Shivaji Chowk and then pelted stones on the mosque. The rioters allegedly burnt a mosque Masjid-e-Umar Farooq in Govind Nagar.
It is said that there was the sword fight and at least two persons identified as Sayed Gani (50) and Raju Hagane (45), were killed. Sabiruz Zaman Khan, Akola general secretary of Jamiat-e-Ulama Hind told TwoCircles.net on phone that nearly 80 shops; 50 of Muslims and 30 of non-Muslims, were set on fire. He added, ‘About 40 persons sustained injuries. Presently, there is curfew and police has been given shoot-at-sight order. ’
The PTI reported the police to have stated that it all happened after some anti-social elements allegedly entered into a verbal duel with the police over the traffic jam at the Shivaji Chowk, caused due to the religious procession.
The police reportedly cane charged and fired several rounds in the air to disperse the mob.
Later, curfew was imposed in the communally sensitive area, 100 km away from Yavatmal. The district SP Shivaji Bodkhe, who visited the area, is reported to have told that additional police force has been deployed to prevent violence.
On Saturday morning, the Chief Minister Ashok Chavan visited the riot-affected Pusad and appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony.
Sabiruz Zaman informed TCN that ‘The CM has announced a compensation of one lakh for those killed and Rs 50 thousands for each injured.’