Gujarat clashes: FIRs filed for rioting, murder

A day after two people were killed and 10 seriously injured in communal clashes in Hansot town of Bharuch district, south Gujarat, police registered five separate FIRs for murder and rioting on Thursday but no arrests were made.

A day after two people were killed and 10 seriously injured in communal clashes in Hansot town of Bharuch district, south Gujarat, police registered five separate FIRs for murder and rioting on Thursday but no arrests were made.

“A case of murder has been registered against 16 persons for their alleged involvement in killing two local youth on Wednesday. We have also registered four FIRs against a mob comprising more than 150 people for their involvement in assault, rioting, attempt to murder and damage to property,” said inspector ND Chaudhari.

Several shops and vehicles were also set on fire in the rioting that began over a minor scuffle about kite flying in the communally-sensitive Ambeta village.

“The situation is tense but under control now with adequate police deployment, including a team of Rapid Action Force,” Bharuch collector Avantika Singh Aulakh told HT.

She also directed mobile companies to stop internet services in the area in order to prevent spread of clashes in nearby villages.

Following the incident, the government rushed state DGP and other senior officials to the place to ensure the clashes did not escalate.

Armed personnel of the State Reserve Police were sent to quell clashes that began after a boy from a minority community was beaten up by a man for chasing kites. “We are keeping a close watch on the situation,” Bharuch SP Bipin Ahire said, adding that police had to lob teargas shells to disperse the mob which was engaging in stone-pelting.

(With inputs from PTI)