Maharashtra communal violence: Situation under control in Akola, Shevgaon; internet suspend

Akola/Pune: Communal violence in Akola town and Shevgaon village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district over the last two days has posed a challenge for the police to prevent a possible flare-up in other areas, even as over 130 people have lost their lives so far. has been taken into custody. One person was killed and 13 others were injured in the clashes. After state minister Girish Mahajan, who belongs to the BJP, claimed that the violence in Akola was possibly ‘pre-planned’, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said there are some organizations and people who want the state to be destabilized, but the government will teach them a lesson.

One person was killed and eight others, including two policemen, were injured in clashes in the sensitive Old City area of ​​Akola on Saturday night over a religious post on social media, following which police imposed curfew in some areas. Police said. Members of both the groups threw stones at each other and ransacked fiercely. Rioters set ablaze some two-wheelers and four-wheelers during the violence.

At least five people were injured in a clash over a procession at Shevgaon village in western Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district on Sunday night. Police said on Monday that several shops and vehicles were damaged in the stone-pelting. Police have so far detained 132 people—over 100 in Akola and 32 in Shevgaon—. An official said cases were registered against 150 people in Shevgaon, 65 km from Ahmednagar district headquarters.

Following the violence in Akola, District Magistrate Neema Arora ordered curfew in four police station areas of the city to maintain law and order, requiring people to stay indoors, a senior official said. Relaxation has been given in areas falling under City Kotwali and Ramdas Peth police station limits.

However, it will remain in force at night (between 8 pm and 8 am) within the limits of Dabki Road and Old City police stations, with some relaxation during the day. Internet services remained suspended in Akola and Shevgaon to prevent the spread of rumours, officials said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday directed the police to take strict action against those responsible for the riots in Akola and Shevgaon and appealed to the people to maintain peace and social harmony, his office said.

“The situation in Akola and Shevgaon is now under control and police force is deployed. On the instructions of state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan has personally visited Akola, while Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has Have reviewed the situation in Shegaon.” Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a statement.

Fadnavis said, ‘It is 100 per cent true that there are some people and organizations who want the state to remain unstable. But the government will expose them and also teach them a lesson. Earlier in the day, state Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan claimed that the clash was probably “pre-planned”. Mahajan visited the affected areas in Akola on Sunday.

?Some houses and vehicles were damaged. “Strict action will be taken against the guilty,” he told reporters after meeting the family of Vilas Gaikwad (40), who died in the violence. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Aurangabad MP Chandrakant Khaire claimed that riots are being instigated in Maharashtra to prevent Muslim votes from shifting to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Khaire alleged that ever since the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis alliance came to power, communal tension is taking place. Meanwhile, security guards at the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik district foiled an attempt by a group of people belonging to a different religion to barge into the temple premises on Saturday night, a trust official said on Monday.

According to the temple management, only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple – one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple trust has given a complaint to the police. A police officer said that no case has been registered so far.