Following clashes in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur over alleged desecration of a religious flag, the police have arrested over 50 persons, including a state leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Clashes erupted in Shastri Nagar area of Jamshedpur on Sunday over alleged desecration of a religious flag that led to brick-batting and arson. Prohiitory orders were subsequently imposed in the affected area.
Locals also complained of disruption of internet services, but there was no official word on it.
What we know of clashes?
Two shops and an auto-rickshaw were set ablaze by the warring groups and the police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob on Sunday evening.
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Tension had been brewing in the area since Saturday night when members of a local organisation found that a piece of meat was tagged to a Ram Navami flag, police said.
The situation turned violent on Sunday evening when a shop was gutted, leading to brick-batting from both sides.
East Singhbhum District Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav had Sunday said some anti-social elements were trying to disturb peace, and sought the cooperation of people to foil their plot.
What have officials said?
“Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 of CrPC were clamped in the area,” said Sub-Divisional Officer (Dhalbhum), Piyush Sinha.
East Singhbhum district Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav said some anti-social elements are trying to disturb peace and sought cooperation from the citizens to foil their plot.
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“We have been keeping strict vigil on the situation and deployed adequate police force, a Quick Response Team, a Magistrate, Rapid Action Force personnel and other anti-riot resources to maintain law and order,” she said in a statement.
DIG (Kolhan) Ajay Linda said that the shops and the auto-rickshaw were set ablaze by local miscreants.
The deputy commissioner said stringent action will be initiated against those who indulged in anti-social activities to disturb communal harmony.
She also urged the people not to pay heed to canards or share inflammatory posts on social media.
Apart from the DC, Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar, Superintendent of Police (City) K Vijay Shankar and Sub-Divisional Officer (Dhalbhum) Piyush are camping in the area.
BJP leader among 50 arrested
Over 50 people have been arrested in connection with violence following the alleged desecration of a religious flag at Shastrinagar in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur, police said on Monday.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC are also in force in the area, where brick-batting and arson had taken place between two groups on Sunday evening, they said.
“Over 50 people, including state BJP leader Abhay Singh, have been arrested and further investigation is underway,” SSP Prabhat Kumar said.
(With PTI inputs)
