Communal violence erupts in Jodhpur, two cops injured
Jodhpur, Jun 22: A communal clash erupted in a locality here in which two policemen were injured and two vehicles were damaged, police said on Saturday.
Jodhpur West DCP Rajesh Kumar Yadav said the clash began Friday night over the construction of a gate in the backside of an eidgah near Rajaram Circle in the Soorsagar area here.
The residents of the locality opposed the construction of the gate on the backside of the eidgah saying that it would increase the movement of people in that area.
According to police, the construction began on Friday evening. The subsequent confrontation turned violent later with stone-pelting, arson and vandalism.
Police Commissioner Rajendra Singh said that the situation is under control and police have been deployed in the entire area.
"We have imposed section 144 and have arrested 51 people so far,” he said.
Last night, tension escalated and some people pelted stones, injuring two police officers, DCP Yadav said.
"A shop and a tractor were set on fire, and a jeep was vandalised," a senior police officer said.
"Police dispersed people to their homes by using batons and fired 4-5 rounds of tear gas shells," the officer added.
While charging at the crowd, police had to face a barrage of stones hurled at them, which for a moment blocked their advancement.
A brief peace was also worked out by the police with the help of senior members from both communities but sudden stone-pelting turned the situation tense again.
According to police, stones were pelted from houses in the areas including Vyapariyon ka Mohalla, Ambon ka Bagh and Subhash Chowk.
Efforts are on to identify the houses from where stones were thrown at the police when they tried to disperse the mob.
By late Friday night, the situation was brought under control but the area remained tense. Heavy police and Rajasthan Armed Constabulary forces continue to be deployed on Saturday morning to maintain law and order.
Police Commissioner Rajendra Singh said two FIRs were filed based on complaints from both sides.
Police said people from both sides have been taken into custody and teams are still raiding houses in the locality to apprehend suspects.
They said that the police have also filed a case in the matter under provisions of law, including perpetrating violence, causing interference in the government's work, damaging public property, disturbing communal harmony and rioting.
#WATCH | Jodhpur, Rajasthan: Security heightened in Soorsagar area following communal unrest and stone pelting between two communities pic.twitter.com/MkIlCJ95Ox
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 22, 2024
#WATCH | Rajasthan: Nishant Bhardwaj, ADCP, Jodhpur says, " Yesterday, on 21st June, communal unrest broke out between two communities. Stone pelting happened and there was pelting against the Police as well...Using all our forces, the situation was brought under control. Right… pic.twitter.com/vGWqTwrs0j
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 22, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BJP will form govt in Bengal with thumping majority: Nabin
Mirzapur (UP) (PTI): BJP president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday voiced confidence that his party will form the government in West Bengal with a "thumping majority".
Polling is underway for 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, covering key districts, including Kolkata, Howrah and North and South 24 Parganas.
The high-stakes contest is being seen as decisive for the ruling TMC's bid for a fourth consecutive term and the BJP's push to form its first government in the state. The first phase held on April 23 recorded a high voter turnout of over 93 per cent, reflecting intense electoral engagement.
Speaking to reporters in Mirzapur, Nabin said, "The BJP will form the government in Bengal. We are winning the elections with a massive majority."
Earlier in the day, the BJP chief visited the Vindhyavasini temple and offered prayers. The rituals were conducted by his priest Acharya Agastya Kumar Dwivedi.
On his first visit to the district after assuming office, Nabin was welcomed by party workers at several places. At the temple, he was received by city MLA Ratnakar Mishra and District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Gangwar, who felicitated him with a traditional 'angvastram'.
After offering prayers for about 10 minutes amid Vedic chants, Nabin held a meeting at a hotel with local MLAs, including Mishra, Majhwan MLA Suchismita Maurya and Madihan MLA Ramashankar Patel.
Patel said Nabin emphasised strengthening the organisation and asked public representatives to focus on serving people in their respective constituencies.
Several party leaders, including district president Lal Bahadur Saroj, district vice-president Gaurav Umar, municipal chairperson Shyam Sundar Kesari, women workers and senior officials, were present on the occasion.
Elaborate security arrangements were put in place by the district administration for the visit, with multiple officers of circle officer rank deployed, officials said.
