Authorities in Bihar’s Aurangabad imposed a curfew on Monday following communal clashes that broke out after a Ram Navami procession, PTI reported.
District Magistrate Rahul Ranjan Mahiwal confirmed that Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code had been imposed, but refuted reports that shoot-at-sight orders were also issued, according to The Times of India. He said the situation in the town was now under control.
Local reports claimed that rioters set ablaze around 50 shops near Jama Masjid on old GT Road and that more than 60 people were injured in the stone-pelting that ensued. Several people had allegedly thrown stones at Ram Navami procession participants in Nawadih.
The police said the situation is now under control and that they had deployed personnel to areas considered sensitive. “The trouble-makers are being identified,” Superintendent Satya Prakash told The New Indian Express. Over 50 people were taken into custody for violence, unidentified officials told the newspaper.
Senior administration officials visited parts of the town on Monday to meet residents. They appealed to them to cooperate with the administration in maintaining peace in the town.
The violence prompted heated exchanges between the government and the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly on Monday. Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav alleged that riots were still taking place in Aurangabad, while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called them rumours.
Violence was reported in parts of West Bengal as well on Sunday during Ram Navami celebrations. One person was reported killed in the clashes.
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