One person was killed and ten others suffered injuries when members of two communities clashed at a village in Maharashtra’s Satara district following an “objectionable” post on social media, police said on Monday
Several houses were burned down by miscreants at Pusesawali village in Khatao tehsil, some 150 kms from Pune late on Sunday night. This led to tension between the two communities. The Satara police have arrested 25 persons, including two youth for derogatory posts and 23 others in connection with murder, rioting and destruction to public order. Internet services have been suspended across the district till Tuesday midnight. Section 144 has also been imposed as a precautionary measure, said Jitendra Dudi, Satara district collector.
Eyewitnesses said that a violent mob of over around thousand people went berserk and targeted houses, business establishments and handcarts in a particular area. The mob set fire to some houses and resorted to vandalism.
In a statement Satara police officials stated, “An incident involving an objectionable status message uploaded on social media on occurred Sunday at 11 pm. The citizens misunderstood the message as communal, posing a law-and-order situation on ground. We have detained two persons for derogatory posts. ”
However, the police have not disclosed the content and nature of the post citing sensitivities involved in the case.
{{/usCountry}}However, the police have not disclosed the content and nature of the post citing sensitivities involved in the case.
{{/usCountry}}The Satara police led by senior officers including Superintendent of Police Sameer Shaikh reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
Shaikh said, “The situation is under control and citizens must not believe in rumours. Steps have been taken to ensure that objectionable social media messages being circulated online are brought to the police’s notice.”
Satara Member of Parliament (MP) Shriniwas Patil sought additional steps from the government to normalise the situation. “Whatever has happened is sad and unfortunate. My appeal to all is to maintain peace,” said Patil.
According to Shaikh, an objectionable post and comments by two youths from a community triggered tension between two communities, leading to communal clashes. In response to the post, there was retaliation , stone pelting and damage to public property by another community.
Two cases have been lodged, the first under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 295 (promoting enmity between two communities) and the other case is related to rioting and destruction of public property.
Accordng to Satara district collector Jitendra Dudi, situation was under control and peaceful in the area in the aftermath of the riots. “Two objectionable social media posts were uploaded by some miscreants which triggered riot-like situation in the area. One person has died and ten others have been injured during the incident. The district administration has suspended Internet,” he said
Following the clashes, Kolhapur Special IG Sunil Phulari appealed citizens for peace and said that sharing of objectionable posts must be avoided. He further appealed to citizens to stop rumours. “We are monitoring the situation closely and reinforcements have been stationed to prevent outbreak of violence,” he said.