Violence erupted in chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s home district Sehore on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday following an offensive social media post against a particular religion and community allegedly by a Bharatiya Janata Party worker.
The WhatsApp group, on which the post was made, was created by a former corporator of the ruling BJP.
Three policemen were injured while three vehicles and a house were set ablaze in two different localities of Sehore between 12.15 am and 2 am.
No casualty was reported from anywhere and the situation is now stated to be under control.
The police have lodged three separate cases in the matter and arrested Vivek Rai, who made the offensive post, and former BJP municipal corporator Hirdesh Rathore —the creator and administrator of the Haal-e-Sehore WhatsApp group.
According to Sehore additional SP Avdhesh Pratap Singh and city SP SR Dandotiya, a large crowd hailing from a particular community took to the streets after 12 am in Sehore’s Kotwali area and started shouting slogans following the post.
The mob started pelting stones on the on-duty police personnel which injured three policemen. The police had to use mild force to disperse the angry mob.
{{/usCountry}}The mob started pelting stones on the on-duty police personnel which injured three policemen. The police had to use mild force to disperse the angry mob.
{{/usCountry}}At Bajaria crossing of Ganj area, people of another community attacked a house and set ablaze a house. The miscreants also set fire on three vehicles in the same area.
The Sehore police have lodged a case against unidentified accused who pelted stones on the police. A case of rioting has also been registered against seven identified accused and 15 others.