Large-scale violence in Jalna: curfew in Kanhaiyanagar locality

Jalna, Maharashtra, Apr 10 (UNI) Large-scale violence erupted in Kanhaiyanagar locality of the town today following desecration of the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, leading to imposition of indefinite curfew there after lathi-charge and police-firing failed to quell the situation.

Dalit activists went on the rampage, torching five vehicles including a State Transport (ST) bus and attacked police vans. They also resorted to heavy stone-pelting, injuring as many as 14 police personnel.

In the police-firing, three persons were injured and as many as 20 persons sustained injuries in the lathi-charge.

District Superintendent of Police Chiranjeev Prasad told UNI that the violence broke out after the desecration of Dr Ambedkar's statue at about 0630 hrs. Curfew was clamped in the locality at 1000 hrs following the violent protests and situation was described as ''tense but under control tonight''.

The protesters also targetted vehicles of Additional Superintendent of Police Rajender Dahale and Sub-divisional Officer P R Singh and other police officials, accompanying them to the site of the desecration.

Schools and commercial establishments were closed and markets and shops pulled down their shutters following the escalation of violence.

Inspector General of Police (Special) Aurangabad range Bhagwantrao More was camping in the troubled town.

The Jalna incident evoked reaction in Aurangabad and Nanded towns in Marathwada and in Kolhapur, where sporadic incidents of stone-pelting were reported during the day.

A peace-committee meeting was held in the town tonight. It was presided over by Minister of State for Urban Development Rajesh Tope.

UNI