MP: Fight between communities over offering prayers on Shivaratri, 14 injured
Bhopal: At least 14 people were injured in a fight between two communities in southwest Madhya Pradesh after an argument over offering Shivaratri prayers on Saturday.
Members of a Dalit community alleged that people belonging to a higher caste stopped them from entering a temple in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, reports NDTV.
According to the police, the argument over Dalits praying at the Shiva temple that was built by people of three other communities in Chhapra village of Sanawad area, situated about 250 km from Bhopal, worsened into a physical clash, with members of both communities pelting the rivals with stones.
With violence and heavy stone pelting reported from both the sides in the area, Vinod Dixit, senior police officer, said, “Complaints have been taken from both parties and action will be taken.”
Premlal, who belongs to a Dalit community, filed a complaint, alleging that a group led by a Bhaiya Lal Patel from Gurjar community, stopped the Dalit girls from entering the temple.
The police have also filed a case against 17 suspects and 25 unidentified persons for causing a riot and other charges, including those under the law to protect Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
On the complaint of Ravindra Rao Maratha, however, a counter-case was registered against Premlal and 33 others, for attacking them with weapons.
Dixit said, “A team of 17 police and revenue officials visited the village. It was explained to both the parties that no caste can be stopped from entering the temple.”
He added that the village had a tense air for a couple of days now, over the cutting of a banyan tree, which is considered by some communities as sacred. The Gurjars had filed a complaint against six people from the Dalit community. A proposal to install a statue of Dr. B R Ambedkar had also given rise to tension in the village, said the official.
In the neighbouring Kasrawad area too, members of a community on Saturday accused another of preventing them from praying at a Shiva Temple in Chhoti Kasrawad village on the occasion of Shivaratri.
Complainant Manju Bai said that she was abused over her caste and shoved by women for offering water to the Shivalinga.
Five people have been named in a police case, including charges under the caste discrimination law, the police said.
Senior police officer Manohar Singh Gawli said, "The temple was overcrowded due to Maha Shivratri in Chhoti Kasrawad because of which there was a dispute among women. One side has complained about 5 people whose statements are being recorded."
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Trump says he ‘hasn’t even thought about’ continuing Iran ceasefire
Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he has not yet considered whether he would continue the ceasefire involving Iran, while also claiming the United States holds the advantage in negotiations.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was prepared to make a deal with “whoever is running the show” in Iran.
“They are fighting with each other, there’s tremendous infighting. They’re probably fighting for leadership in many cases. I think they’re fighting not to be leader because we knocked out two levels of leaders,” he said.
Trump added, “When they want they can call me. We have all the cards, we’ve won everything.”
Referring to ongoing negotiations, he said, “They gave us a paper that should’ve been better. And, interestingly, immediately when I cancelled it [envoy trip to Pakistan], within 10 minutes we got a new paper that was much better.”
“We talked about they will not have a nuclear weapon, very simple … They offered a lot, but not enough,” he added.
When asked whether he would continue the ceasefire, Trump replied, “I haven’t even thought about it.”
The remarks come as uncertainty remains over the future of the temporary truce and broader negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
