Communal tension in Malwa could be part of a conspiracy

Indore, Feb 16 (UNI) The local Bombay Bazaar, which used to resonate with Padma Vibhushan Ustad Aamir Khan's voice, now cowers under the shadow of communal tension and violence.

Nowadays the area, where painter Maqbool Fida Hussain spent his childhood, sometimes bears an ominous silence on account of either curfew being clamped or prohibitory orders being in force. A resident laments that, for the past few decades, the locality is synonymous with communal tension.

A recent incident in the nearby Mukeripura area triggered communal violence.

This city is located within Malwa region, which is a centre of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India's activities.

Recurring communal tension in more than one place has dealt a body blow to the law and order situation in a state that was once known as an isle of peace.

Besides Ujjain, Malwa's Mandsaur and Neemuch -- both opium production centres -- have also witnessed SIMI activity thereby linking the latter with international smuggler syndicates.

State Public Works Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has expressed suspicion of a grave conspiracy behind the communal violence at Indore. Recent communal tension at Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Shajapur and Rajgarh's Bioara led to clamping of curfew at Indore and Rajgarh.

While prohibitory orders were imposed in Dewas district's Haat Pipaliya, cow slaughter led to tension at Ujjain and Mandsaur.

Shajapur district has also become ''sensitive.'' The Bhojshala monument issue led to curfew being clamped about a year back in Dhar district from where reports of communal tension still emanate.

The police said that a major investigation is underway into an attempt to profit from a sense of mistrust among the public.

However, they add that nothing can be said at this juncture about whether the conspiracy has links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.

Reports spoke about SIMI involvement in the Mumbai transit terror blasts and that organisation's active office-bearers links extended to Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district, which has made headlines for riots in recent years. Consequently, a police crackdown took place against SIMI.

Ujjain district's Khachrod and Mahidpur are also believed to be SIMI centres. Former SIMI general secretary Safdar Nagori, who hails from Ujjain district, is absconding. About a decade back, a cache of modern weapons -- including the AK-47 -- was seized from a well at Jhiranya in Khachrod area.

UNI