Jaipur, (IANS): Prohibitory orders clamped in Rajasthan’s Udaipur and Rajsamand districts two days ago are to continue on Friday too, officials said even as 175 persons, mostly right-wing Hindu activists, were arrested and several others detained for violating orders by taking out rallies and raising slogans.
Internet services will also remain suspended in the two cities on Friday. However, schools and colleges opened.
Section 144 was imposed in Udaipur and Rajsamand after Hindu organisations declared they will take out rallies to protest a video going viral on social media by a particular community. internet services were also suspended in the two cities to avoid any untoward incident.
On Thursday, despite the prohibitory measures in place, violent protesters raised slogans and took out vehicle rallies on the streets in support of “Love Jihad” murder accused Shambhulal Raigar, who brutally killed a Muslim labourer from West Bengal earlier in the month.
Wearing saffron bandanas, the right-wing activists were seen climbing on top of buildings, raising slogans and pelting stones. Police had to resort to lathicharge to control the situation. This led to tension between police and protesters with the latter attacking the police team, leaving ASP Sudhir Chaudhary and 12 other policemen, injured.
Many protesters also sustained injuries.
The aggressiveness of the protesters forced the police team, from IG to SP, to resort to lathicharge. A few shots were also fired in air to disperse the angry mob.
Sources said that the protesters joined hands with advocates at Court Chauraha and pelted stones on the police team from the Court. They also raised saffron flags.
District Magistrate Vishu Mallick said that internet services will remain suspended till 8 p.m. on Friday. He said that adequate police force has been called in to avoid any disturbance in Udaipur and Rajsamand.
On Thursday, police detained right-wing activist Thakur Updesh Rana in Bagru at the Jaipur border on Ajmer Road to thwart a massive rally that he had called in Udaipur in support of Raigar.
There has also been a sharp rise in hate messages being exchanged on social media sites in the wake of the “Love Jihad” killing by Raigar.