Maharashtra: Five hurt in clashes in Ahmednagar

Pune: At least five persons were injured in a communal clash over a procession in Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra where several shops and vehicles were damaged in stone pelting, police said on Monday.

Police have detained 32 people so far and registered cases against 150 others after the incident on Sunday night, an official said.

Internet services have been suspended in Shevgaon village, about 65 km from the Ahmednagar district headquarters.

"Multiple shops and vehicles were damaged during stone pelting," the official said.

He said a heavy police force, including SRPF (State Reserve Police Force) and riot control squad, is deployed in the village.

Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, said the situation is under control in Ahmednagar.

"Those who are trying to trigger riots will not be spared. Strict action will be taken against those who are helping to create such untoward incidents," he said in Pune.

Pre-planned attack

Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan claimed the clash between members of two communities in Akola which claimed one person's life and left eight others injured was possibly "pre-planned".

The clash broke out on Saturday night in the sensitive Old City area of Akola over a religious post which went viral on a social media platform, a senior police official earlier said.

Members of the two groups pelted stones at each other and indulged in large scale vandalism. The rioters set on fire some two-wheelers and four-wheelers during the violence.

One person was killed and eight others, including two policemen, were injured, an official earlier said.

The police have detained 26 people in connection with the incident and deployed heavy security in the violence-hit areas, as per officials.

The person killed in the violence has been identified as Vilas Gaikwad (40), they said.

Section 144 imposed

After the incident, District Magistrate Neema Arora ordered the imposition of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which prohibits unlawful assembly of people, in four police station areas of the city to maintain law and order.

State Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan visited the riot-affected area.

He said, "It is suspected that the incident was pre-planned. Some houses and vehicles were damaged. Strict action would be taken against the culprits."

Condolences to family

Mahajan also met the family of the man killed in the violence and expressed condolences.

He also inspected the violence-affected areas near Rajarajeshwar temple and Harihar Peth in Akola.Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced an assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the family of the person killed in the violence.

He assured the government's support to the deceased's family members, who are from a poor financial background.