Two communities clash in Bharatpur, stones & bottles pelted; flare-up over 8 year-old dispute

New Delhi: First Karoli violence & then series of clashes in Jodhpur, Bhilwara and now Bharatpur, Rajasthan has been on the boil with intermittent incident of clashes between two communities.

The violent clashes saw rioters brandishing sharp weapons & lathis while others threw stones & bottles at each other. However, soon after the flare-up, large number of police personnel were deployed in the area. Police have also taken 15 people in custody for fanning the communal fire.

According to the police, the heated altercation happened between two groups at the Hot colony of Bharatpur town last night and stone-pelting followed.

How clashes began

Reports suggest that the matter over which two communities came face to face is an 8 year old issue. In 2013, a group of miscreants were sent behind bars for intruding into a religious event and disturbing the communal harmony. A Bhandara was organised by the Sikh community here.

Yesterday, when these miscreants belonging to the Muslim community were set free, they reached the same spot and were celebrating their release with loud music & DJ. They also reportedly hurled stones at nearby houses belonging to other community.

Sikh men objected to boisterous celebrations and this triggered clashes. People from both communities were seen wielding lathis & swords. Some people are said to have been injured in stone pelting & currently are under hospitalised.

Stone pelting reportedly continued for almost half an hour. Police have detained 15 persons so far.

Rajasthan has lately become a hotspot of violent incidents between communities and Gehlot government is receiving a lot of flak for its shoddy management of law & order. Rajasthan government sought to deflect blame on Centre & BJP but nobody is buying into its ‘outlandish’ claim.