8 held for fomenting communal trouble in Surat

Surat, July 15 (UNI) Eight persons have been arrested in connection with the communal tension that prevailed here following an attempt to ransack a mosque in the Udhna Darwaja area on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) V Chandrasekhar said here today.

Minority community "leaders" said the police was inactive when alleged VHP activists tried to ransack the mosque.

Mr Chandrasekhar, however, said the police had assured the community "leaders" that people responsible for creating the tension would be arrested. Despite the assurance, some elements resorted to violence yesterday too.

He said the police had video clippings on the ransacking of the mosque on Thursday as well as on yesterday's violent incidents.

Eight persons were arrested on the basis of these video clippings, Mr Chandrasekhar said. Four of the arrested are VHP activists who created tension in the mosque on Thursday while the other four, members of the minority community, were arrested for yesterday's violent incidents, he added.

He said situation in the city was now under control.

Meanwhile, city police commissioner Sudhir Sinha urged people not to fall prey to rumours. Police are patrolling all sensitive areas, he added.

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