Defer civic poll in Dhule; Yechury

New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) CPI(M) polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury today asked Maharashtra government to postpone the November 30 municipal elections in Dhule in view of the recent communal clashes in the town.

Hindu-Muslim riots in Dhule, situated 50 km from communally sensitive textile town of Malegaon in North Maharashtra, had claimed at least three lives and left 80 others wounded on October 5, forcing the authorities to clamp curfew in the town.

In a statement after visiting the town today along with party state secretary Ashok Dhawle, the Marxist leader criticised police for filing cases against the affected people and failing to arrest those accused of triggering violence Mr Yechury also visited Malegoan and met bomb blast victims.

Four people were killed and over 50 wounded in a bomb explosion at Bhikku Chowk at the heart of the town on September 29.

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