TCN Special Correspondent
Jaipur: Rajasthan’s Udaipur district is gripped by unrest as a student altercation at a local government school ignited a surge of communal violence on August 16. What began as a schoolyard fight escalated into arson, stone-pelting and vandalism, leading to market shutdowns and a flood of tourists fleeing the City of Lakes.
As per the orders of the Udaipur District Collector Arvind Kumar Poswal, all schools and colleges will remain closed until further notice. The administration has imposed Section 144 in the area, mandating that religious activities like prayers be conducted at home.
He said the incident involves one student attacking another with a knife.
The house of the student accused of the stabbing has been demolished, with the Udaipur Municipal Corporation and the Forest Department citing it as an illegal construction. This demolition took place in the presence of the police.
Notices were posted on the house by both teams on the morning of August 17. Prior to this, the house had been vacated and its electricity connection cut off.
What Fuelled the Violence?
On the morning of August 16, around 10:30 am, a dispute occurred between two students at a government school in Udaipur. During the altercation, one student attacked the other with a knife.
The injured student was admitted to the district hospital a few kilometers away, attended to by the school’s teachers.
Upon receiving news of the incident, Hindutva organisations took to the streets and began protests. This led to crowds gathering in various parts of the city, engaging in stone-pelting, arson and vandalism. Several vehicles were set on fire and damaged, and disturbances occurred at places of worship.
Many videos of the incidents have surfaced, showing crowds chanting provocative slogans while vandalising property.
A senior journalist from the district said, “This was a children’s dispute that has been exacerbated by communal elements. There was administrative failure as well because when the incident became known early in the morning and there were fears of escalating violence, prompt action should have been taken, which was delayed.”
He added, “Those with influence are the ones who caused the damage. To prevent such incidents in the future, the troublemakers need to be identified and given strict punishment. The police have all the CCTV footage. The public desires peace, but those causing trouble are either driven by personal interests or are politically motivated. Action should be taken against them.”
A resident of Udaipur, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The vandalism and arson were carried out by identifying specific people.”
Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP) U.R. Sahu said, “The city is currently peaceful, and the situation is under control. Those involved in vandalism, arson and stone-pelting will be identified and action will be taken against them.”
He further said, “Additional police forces have been deployed. The situation is under control. The minor student has been detained, and his father has also been arrested. Action will be taken against those involved in vandalism and arson.”
“No unpleasant incidents have occurred since last (August 16) night. The atmosphere is peaceful,” he said.
He further stated, “A team of doctors has been appointed to treat the injured student. We receive hourly updates on his health, which is improving. The state government has sent a special team of doctors (nephrologists) from Jaipur. All necessary arrangements have been made.”
“For communal harmony, we have engaged in dialogue with both sides. All have been asked to conduct religious activities at home. Discussions have also been held with Hindu community members. Everyone wants to avoid such incidents,” he added.
Four IPS officers and 3,000 police personnel are stationed, said Udaipur Range IG Ajay Pal Lamba, adding that barricades have been set up throughout the city, and efforts are being made to educate the public.
Political Reactions
In a statement, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said, “The Udaipur Superintendent of Police has been instructed to maintain peace and law and order at all costs and to ensure strict action against those spreading unrest.”
Five companies of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) have been sent to Udaipur by the police headquarters, reads the statement.
“Additionally, officers of the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Inspectors and a large number of constables from neighboring districts have been made available.”
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has appealed to people to maintain peace, stating, “The situation in Udaipur due to communal tensions is concerning. I urge people from all communities to remain peaceful and not pay attention to rumors.”
Dr. Manna Lal Rawat, Udaipur MP from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the stabbing incident occurred because the accused student is “influenced by extremists”. “The entire case is serious. The two students are in the same class, but one is influenced by extremist elements, which led to the stabbing. This is a serious issue for the city’s peace.”
He added, “After the Kanhiya Lal murder case, a major communal tension in Udaipur again is a cause of concern. The police need to ensure that this is not part of a larger pattern. The injured student used to portray Lord Rama during school cultural programs. Therefore, it seems necessary to examine the situation more deeply.”
Justifying the bulldozing of the accused house, he stated that he had been informed that the construction had been carried out on “illegally occupied land”.
However, Dungarpur-Banswara MP Rajkumar Rot has raised questions about the legality of the bulldozer action, saying, “The stabbing incident involving school children in Udaipur is condemnable, and the perpetrator should face legal consequences. However, the BJP government has further fueled communal discord by demolishing a minor’s house with a bulldozer.”
“Using a bulldozer based on caste and religion only serves to push the future of the country into hatred,” he said.