1 dead, 14 injured in communal clash in Assam's Hailakandi; curfew clamped
Hailakandi: The Army has been called in to maintain peace after curfew was clamped in this district of Assam on Friday following a communal clash that left one person dead and 14 others injured, officials said.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli said the curfew was clamped from 6 pm in the district till 7 pm of May 12 as some groups were trying to "indulge in violence and there is apprehension of grave risk and danger to human life and property".
Earlier, an indefinite curfew was clamped only in Hailakandi town from 1 pm following the clash. The district administration sought the Army's help after clashes broke out between members of two communities when some people protested against prayers being held on a road in front of a mosque, the officials said.
At least 15 people were injured, three of them critically, in the clash and more than 15 vehicles damaged and 12 shops vandalised and set on fire in different parts of the town, they said.
Official sources said one of the injured died at Silchar Medical College and Hospital at night. He has been identified as Jashim Uddin, 28, they added.
Trouble started when a group of people decided to hold the Friday noon prayers on the road, located at Kali Bari point of the town, in protest against some motorcycles being damaged by people belonging to another community, the officials said. Police attempted to disperse the protestors by firing in the air in which 15 people were injured, they said.
Jalli said a tense situation arose which ''necessitated immediate and speedy action for the maintenance of public peace and tranquility''. Appealing to the people not to spread rumours, she said "the administration was doing everything to maintain peace and security of the people".
"It is not a communal clash but two-three miscreants have created all this," Jalli said. She said the situation was under control with the deployment of personnel from the CRPF and the Assam Rifles.
Chief Minister Sonowal has directed Additional Chief Secretary Rajiv Bora to conduct an inquiry into the incident and submit a report to the government. The chief minister while reviewing the situation also directed the district administration to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order.
Sonowal also called on the people of the state to maintain peace and harmony and not to allow the divisive forces to create unrest. He warned of strict action against forces inimical to the interests of the state and its people.
As per the directions of the chief minister, Environment & Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, ADGP Mukesh Agarwalla and Commissioner of Barak Valley Region Anuwaruddin Choudhury are already headed to Hailakandi to take stock of the situation, a government release said.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
