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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K’taka govt. to set up biodiesel retail outlets to promote green fuel usage
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is set to establish biodiesel retail outlets across the state to encourage the use of green fuel. The initiative was discussed in a meeting between Karnataka State Bioenergy Development Board (KSBDB) Chairman S. E. Sudheendra and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, and Legal Metrology K. H. Muniyappa at Vidhana Soudha.
During the meeting, Sudheendra highlighted that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had permitted the sale of biodiesel through retail outlets since 2019.
He informed the minister that KSBDB has been actively implementing bioenergy projects across the state and that the establishment of biodiesel outlets would contribute to the National Mission of promoting B-100 biodiesel in vehicles. He also conveyed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s keen interest in boosting the bioenergy sector in Karnataka.
The chairman further mentioned the board’s efforts in developing a new Karnataka State Bioenergy Policy, aimed at scaling up and commercializing biofuel activities.
The policy is being formulated under the guidance of Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge.
Minister Muniyappa responded positively to the proposal and directed senior officials to take immediate steps for issuing the necessary licenses for the retail outlets.
The meeting was attended by Food and Civil Supplies Principal Secretary Manoj Jain (IAS), Commissioner Vasireddi Vijaya Jyothsna (IAS), KSBDB Managing Director Shiva Shankar L., DCF Lohith B. R., Project Consultant Dr. Dayananda G. N., and other senior officials.
