Chhattisgarh is witnessing prolonged violence since 4 October as a consequence of communal clashes that broke out between Hindus and Muslims over alleged religious flags being lowered. The local administration has imposed a curfew in Kawardha town of Kabirdham district. Section 144 has been imposed in the town, situated about 126 km from Raipur.
According to the officials, some policemen sustained minor injuries while dispersing a mob that pelted stones at houses and shops and ransacked some vehicles. No civilian was injured and around 40 people were detained after the incident, the officials said.
Tension prevailed on Sunday afternoon after people from two communities clashed over the removal of religious flags from Lohara Chowk of the town. The district administration then invoked section 144 of the CrPC to control the situation.
Police had lodged FIRs based on cross-complaints and arrested some persons in connection with the clash. To protest Sunday’s incident, right-wing outfits took out the rally.
BJP MP from Rajnandgaon Santosh Pandey, who also attended the rally, demanded the arrest of those who had allegedly disrespected saffron flags on Sunday. He called for maintaining peace.
Meanwhile, state BJP president Vishnudeo Sai accused Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of ignoring the “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state and alleged certain elements were trying to play with the religious faith of the majority community in Kawardha.
They said no permission was given by the administration for the rally which was taken out two days after a clash broke out between people belonging to two communities over the removal of religious flags from a thoroughfare in the town, the headquarters of Kabirdham district located around 126 km from state capital Raipur.
While Chhattisgarh witnessing this severe law and order situation, the Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel is busy with ‘Vulture Tourism’ in Uttar Pradesh, to counter Yogi government on the Lakhimpur Kheri violence issue.
While hi own state is facing communal tension, he is sitting on a dharna at the Lucknow airport after being refused to walk out of its premises by the Uttar Pradesh police.
Taking to Twitter, Baghel, who was on his way to Sitapur to meet detained Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, said, “I am being stopped from going out of Lucknow airport without any orders.”
