Gurugram/Chandigarh: Two Home Guards were shot dead and seven policemen injured as a mob tried to stop a religious procession, throwing stones and setting cars on fire in Haryana.
The police used teargas and fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd. Internet services have been suspended in the area and prohibitory orders banning large gatherings have been issued.
Prohibitory orders banning assembly of people were clamped in Nuh and Gurugram districts. Mobile internet services were suspended in Nuh and Faridabad up to Wednesday.
Educational institutes were ordered closed Tuesday in Faridabad and Palwal districts as a precautionary measure.
The police have rescued nearly 2,500 men, women and children who had taken shelter at a temple near Nuh, adjoining Gurugram, due to the violence outside. The crowd, stranded at the Nulhar Mahadev temple, had come to take part in the religious procession, during which the violence started.
The clash started as the Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra, organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, was stopped by a group of young men on the Gurugram-Alwar National Highway and stones were thrown at the procession.
As the violence escalated, government and private vehicles were targeted by the mob. Towards evening, violence spread to the Gurugram-Sohna highway, where several cars were torched and stones were thrown at the police, sources said. Later, the injured policemen were shifted to the Medanta hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
Reports say the clash was triggered by an objectionable video posted on social media by a Bajrang Dal activist.
Sources said Bajrang Dal member Monu Manesar and his associates – suspects in several criminal cases — had circulated the video a few days ago. He had openly challenged that he would stay in Mewat during the yatra.
Many are claiming to have seen them during the yatra. The locals allegedly retaliated to it.
As news of the violence in Nuh spread, mobs in adjoining Gurugram district’s Sohna set fire to four vehicles and a shop. Protesters also blocked a road for hours.
Stones were thrown and vehicles were set on fire as clashes broke out between two groups in the Mewat region. Meanwhile, Internet services have been shut in the area amid “intense communal situation” and reinforcements have been rushed to Nuh from neighbouring districts.
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij appealed to the people to maintain peace in the state.
Stones were thrown and vehicles were set on fire as clashes broke out between two groups in the Mewat region. Meanwhile, Internet services have been shut in the area amid “intense communal situation” and reinforcements have been rushed to Nuh from neighbouring districts.
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij appealed to the people to maintain peace in the state.