Facebook comments spark riot in Rajasthan

Udaipur, Nov 22: Fresh communal violence broke out in Rajasthan's Dungarpur town on Monday as members of a community pelted stones at shops and vehicles protesting against objectionable comments against a religion on social-networking site Facebook and clashed with police.

Prohibitory orders were clamped in Dungarpur town, about 130 kms from here, after the violence left six persons, including in-charge of police station Goverdhan Lal, injured.

The violent protest was a sequel to last night's tension in Udaipur over the comments on Facebook with members of the community holding demonstration in Mukherjee Chowk area near Masjid Chudigaran and burning tyres.

In Dungarpur, the community members this morning took out a silent rally which turned violent when a youth driving a motorcycle entered the crowd.

The agitators beat up the youth and pelted stones at shops and damaged public property, Inspector General of Poice Govind Gupta said.

Police used batons and fired tear gas shells to quell the protesters.

Senior district and police officials have reached the spot, Gupta said.

The agitators also submitted a memorandum to district collectorate of Dungarpur protesting against the objectionable post.

Police said the comments, posted from a fake account, have been removed and investigations are on to nab the culprit.

PTI