More than two dozen people including eight police officials were injured in a clash between Hindus and Muslims following alleged lewd remarks passed on women in a Ranchi village, police said on Tuesday.
The clashes erupted in Sukurhutu, located 12 km from Ranchi district headquarters, around 8pm on Monday. People from both communities threw stones at each other and damaged houses.
Armed with sticks and swords, the rioters turned on a small contingent from Kanke police station which reached the village within 15 minutes of the flare-up.
Kanke police station in-charge, inspector Rajiv Ranjan, was struck on the head with a stone and had to be taken to hospital. With the local police team outnumbered, around 300 additional personnel were rushed to the spot and they cordoned off the village.
Rioters threw stones at police personnel and damaged vehicles, said police, adding that they had to resort to a cane-charge.
Ranchi senior superintendent of police Kuldeep Dwivedi said 64 people from both communities were arrested for allegedly instigating the flare-up. An FIR has been lodged against more than 100, including unidentified people, in the incident.
{{/usCountry}}Ranchi senior superintendent of police Kuldeep Dwivedi said 64 people from both communities were arrested for allegedly instigating the flare-up. An FIR has been lodged against more than 100, including unidentified people, in the incident.
{{/usCountry}}The district administration clamped prohibitory orders in the village on Tuesday. “The situation is well under control,” said Dwivedi.
Police said the trouble started when a group of youngsters, suspected to be high on either drugs or alcohol, allegedly passed lewd comments on women returning from the village pond.
“Around eight policemen were hurt in the incident,” said Ranchi sub-divisional officer Bhor Singh Yadav. “The incident is being investigated and action will be taken against those involved.”
Sukurhutu witnessed violence even as another Ranchi locality, Bargai, limped back to normalcy after communal clashes.
On May 2, at least a dozen people were injured in clashes between two communities in Bargai. The fight broke out after a group of about 350 people attacked a marriage procession when it reached near Bargai mosque. Police registered an FIR against 39 persons after the clashes.