New Delhi: Six people were injured after clashes broke out between two groups at Old Galla Mandi in Jahangirabad, Bhopal on Tuesday morning. Utter chaos and tension gripped the place amid the stone-pelting as both groups brandished weapons and chased each other. Heavy security forces were deployed to ensure that the situation doesn’t go out of control.
What exactly happened
To understand the conflict fully, it is important to know the backstory. On Sunday, a person named Faiz was driving his bike recklessly in Sardar Mohalla, and when he was stopped, a dispute ensued. Five Muslim youths attacked a Sikh community member with knives and daggers. A complaint was filed with the police, and a case was registered against the five persons. Three of them were arrested, while two others were still at large. On Monday evening, one of the absconding accused was seen by the Sikh community members. As a result, this morning, around 40-50 people entered the Muslim locality and started vandalising the place, engaging in clashes, while wielding swords and sticks, as seen in the videos that surfaced.
E-rickshaws and bikes smashed
Sources said that during the melee, people carrying swords caused damage to e-rickshaws and parked bikes in the neighbourhood. Glasses were broken. The vandals went on a rampage and intimidated the people. Both the groups pelted stones at each other and showed off their power. The Muslim community members said that when they reached the settlement, they came to know that suddenly dozens of people arrived with swords and sticks in their hands. They claimed that they were thrashed ruthlessly. “No one knew what was happening. But people from outside also came here,” they said.
Investigation ongoing, action will be taken against attackers: Police
Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayan Chari Mishra said that it was shocking that while we were taking action based on the statements of one side, suddenly such a situation arose on Tuesday. “We have received information that people from outside have also came and caused trouble. Action will be taken against these people as well,” he said.
