Police chief blames political extremists for violence in Vadodara

Vadodara, May 25 (UNI) Fiftee people were arrested in connection with the stone-throwing incidents this afternoon following damage to the 'Jogini Mata' temple and many more arrests were expected by tonight, city Police Commissioner P C Thakur today said.

A ST bus passing through Mandvi road area in the city was stoned by a mob and its windshield and window panes shattered.

Earlier, in the afternoon at Champaner darwaza here after the friday prayers at Limbuvadi masjid, a crowd emerging from the mosque began throwing stones at pedestrians.

Police lobbed three tear-gas shells in Ladvala area and one at Yakutpura durng the stone-throwing incidents.

Mr Thakur told UNI here that the incidents taking place in Vadodara are meant to disturb peace and harmony and are ''part of a well-planned conspiracy''.

He said political extremists were conspiring against the common man to make his life miserable.

Initially, obscene carving of 'Vishnu and Christ' was turned into a big issue. Then followed nude posters, purportedly of Prophet Mohammad being pasted in the MSU dormitory walls. Finally, the overnight incident of burning a temple of 'Jogini Mata' in Karelibaug and the stone-throwing incidents this afternoon had resulted in tension in the city, ''All these acts fit to a pattern and the motives of the people behind these incidents speak for itself, Mr Thakur said hinting at the assembly elections that are slated later this year.

UNI