Clashes reported in Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh on Eid-ul-Fitr

Communal tension prevailed in Maniharwadi area of Shajapur district on Saturday (Eid) after members of two communities clashed with each other after an argument over music being played loudly. The clashes led to stone pelting. However, the promptness of police prevented a major communal outbreak and no casualties have been reported a day after the incident. Police arrested 30-35 people in connection with the incident on the basis of CCTV footage and booked them under relevant sections of the IPC.

About half-a-dozen people were injured in the clash, while two cops were injured. In addition, around 10 vehicles were set on fire and a number of shops were vandalised, according to the police. Heavy security forces have been deployed in the area and Section 144 of the CrPc has been imposed, prohibiting the assembly of four or more people.

“Tension erupted after an argument between the Rajput community (organisers of Maharana Pratap birth anniversary procession) and Muslim youths over lowering the sound of the music,” said Shajapur superintendent of police Shailendra Singh Chauhan. He said that when the procession was passing through Nai Sadak, a Muslim-dominated area, a few people requested them to decrease the volume of music being played in the procession. “When the volume was not decreased, some Muslim youths allegedly pelted stones on the procession. Situation turned ugly when both the groups started hurling stones on each other,” said city SP Chauhan.

The situation is under control now and Section 144 of the CrPc has been imposed in the area. “The police is arresting people on the basis of CCTV footage and videos of the incident,” he added.

Replying to the question of how the police will control the fake news being circulated of the incident on social media, he said, “We are closely monitoring social media and have advised people to keep away from rumours. If a situation emerges, we would not hesitate to shut down the internet.”

Town inspector of the area Alok Parihar said that police personnel were marching with the procession but they have no information about who was playing the music when the procession was passing through Nai Sadak on Eid. “They had no permission to play music, when we urged to stop it for a while, they overruled the orders which led to the clash between the groups.”

Eye-witness Account

According to eye-witnesses, Pawan, who runs a shop at Nai Sadak said that at the time of the incident he was at his shop dealing with the customers when the clash broke out. “Some Muslim youths were playing music in the corner of the market and a procession of Maharana Pratap coming from the main road. Everything was normal, before both groups started pelting stones on each other and there was mayhem in the area within a minute.”

He further said, as the situation turn ugly, police resorted to lathicharge and lobbed tear gas shells to control the situation. “Within an hour, police controlled the situation.”

Another eye-witness, who did not wish to be named, said when the Shaurya Yatra procession reached Nai Sadak, Eid celebration was also in progress in an open space near Mahadev temple. Despite police officials requesting both sides to reduce the sound of the music being played, it was not reduced and the stone pelting began soon afterwards.