Clashes broke out between two communities in Bihar’s Nawada on Friday, after a statue of a deity was vandalised.
“It was a matter of an idol being vandalised by some miscreants, which led to the communities coming face-to-face. The situation is now under control,” District Magistrate Kaushal Kumar told ANI.
According to News18, the violence led to the shops being torched, and vehicles being reportedly damaged. More police personnel have been deployed in the area, and the internet services have been suspended.
This latest instance of communal tension adds to the spate of incidents of violence in the state in the recent few weeks.
A Chronology of Recent Communal Incidents
- On 17 March, tensions surfaced in Bhagalpur's Nathnagar locality, as people of two communities clashed over a religious procession led by saffron outfits. More than 35 people, including policemen, were injured. Several shops and vehicles were set on fire. Internet services in the area were suspended.
- On 24 March, a small clash between Hindus and Muslims broke out as a group of people stopped a Ram Navami procession in Hassanpura. Three vehicles were burnt, and around six were arrested as a result.
- Aurangabad, Kaimur and Gaya witnessed communal clashes on 25 March. More than 30 shops were set on fire, and over 25 people were injured in Aurangabad during the clashes. Police said around 150 people have been arrested.
- Two groups clashed in Samastipur on 27 March over a Ram Navami procession that came under attack by troublemakers. Three vehicles were set ablaze and around 10 people, including a probationary Indian Police Service officer, were injured.
- Clashes broke out between two religious groups in Bihar’s Munger in the early hours of Wednesday, 28 March.
According to Hindustan Times, the violence in the state has led to more than 100 people, including security personnel, being injured. More than 200 people have been arrested so far.
Opposition Blames Nitish Kumar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken up the task of monitoring the situation and has deployed heavy forces in all the affected districts, News18 reported.
The RJD-Congress Opposition has blamed the increase in communal incidents on the alleged dominance of the BJP in the state government.
Mohan Bhagwat recently came to Bihar for 14 days. In these 14 days, he gave training on how to incite riots during Ram Navami. Now, people are getting to know about the agenda of his Bihar visit.Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader
(With inputs from Hindustan Times and News18 and ANI)
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