Clashes in MP town: Police fire teargas shells to disperse mob, arrest 50

Communal clashes broke out in the Sihora town of the Jabalpur district in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday night. Police had to fire tear gas shells and arrest almost 50 persons to bring the situation under control.

According to the police, the incident occurred in the Azad Chowk area at around 10 pm when members of two communities clashed with each other, pelting stones and indulging in vandalism.

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Additional police force from three police stations of Jabalpur and other districts was rushed to the spot.

According to Jabalpur SP Sampat Upadhyay, the police initially used mild force but later fired eight to ten teargas shells to disperse the mob.

A mosque and a temple are located opposite each other across the road. Sources claimed that the clash was triggered after a dispute arose when Aarti and Namaz were being conducted simultaneously.

In an official statement on Friday, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said directives have been issued to ensure maintenance of law and order. He said the government is aware of the matter and the administration is performing its duties thoroughly.

According to Jabalpur Collector Raghavendra Singh the situation was okay and under control. He said several officials were on the spot.

Some members of the Hindu community alleged that there was stone pelting on the temple.

The Collector, however, dismissed the claims. He stated that there was no stone-pelting on the temple and there was no damage to the temple as well.

He maintained that the stone-pelting took place between two groups.

Additional Superintendent of Police Suryakant Sharma said 49 people have been rounded up so far and others involved in the violence are being identified and will be arrested within 24 hours.

“We are handing over the revenue-related issues to the area Sub-Divisional Magistrate. Pertaining to crime, we have made 49 arrests so far,” Sharma said.

Meanwhile, Sports and Youth Welfare and Cooperatives Minister Vishwas Sarang told reporters in Bhopal that Madhya Pradesh is a peaceful state and no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands.

Referring to a viral video showing stones being hurled from atop a mosque, Sarang said an investigation is underway and action is being taken against those responsible.

“No one has the right to take the law into their own hands. How stones were collected at the mosque is a matter of investigation,” he said.

Some right-wing Hindu organisation activists later gheraoed the Sihora police station and squatted on the road while reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, demanding demolition of houses of those involved in the vandalism.