Communal clashes in Mah claim 4 lives

Dhule (Maharashtra), Oct 6: Group clashes and police firing in the Dhule district of Maharashtra has claimed four lives on Monday, Oct 6. No untoward incident was reported since Sunday, Oct 5 night and curfew was not relaxed since Sunday, Oct 5. "Clashes began on Sunday, Oct 5 morning at Lal Kandil Chowk when some people, belonging to a particular community, allegedly torn off banners of Hindu Rakshan Samiti appealing to people to attend a public meeting in Dhule's Ram Mandir Chowk in the evening," police said.

In the ensuing violence, rioters indulged in heavy stone-pelting, looting shops, torching vehicles in Azad Nagar, Gurudwara, Mogalai, Bhangar Bazaar, Ekveera Devi temple areas, police said.

Police used tear gas shells and fired in the air to disburse them. Authorities declared a curfew to bring the situation under control. Additional forces including the state Reserve Police from Nandurbar and Dhule, have been deployed in the trouble-torn areas and the situation is still tense.

NCP MLA from Dhule Rajvardhan Kadambande on Sunday, Oct 5 said, "a dispute over displaying banners by a Hindu organisation led to the clashes and anti-social elements took advantage of the situation by indulging in stone-pelting and arson." He urged people to remain calm and assist local administration.

OneIndia News