After the five-day-long violent communal clashes, Maharashtra is limping back to normal. There were no fresh reports of violence from Sangli district, while police had to open fire in a Kolhapur town on Tuesday to control a violent mob.
Curfew has been clamped on Tuesday in Ichalkaranji, a power loom town in Kolhapur district about 400 km south of state capital Mumbai, following large-scale violence on Monday night.
Violence broke out on the last day of the Ganesh festival on September 3 mainly in Miraj in Sangli district, about 400 km south of Mumbai, before spreading to adjacent areas.
Signs of violence were still seen on the streets of Ichalkaranji even on Tuesday noon. A labourer, who was identified as Vasant Avghade, was killed in a stabbing incident, which triggered the violence.
Ichalkaranji Superintendent of Police Yashasvi Yadav told Hindustan Times: “The mob desecrated religious places and indulged in looting. They even attacked a police station.”
Yadav said there would not be any relaxation in curfew. He said, “People must pay for disturbing communal harmony. We will pick up all those who were involved in violence, irrespective of their political affiliation and community.”
He said about 100 people were arrested for taking part in Monday night’s violence. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere else in the district. The Rapid Action Force from Mumbai reached in Ichalkaranji late in the noon.
{{/usCountry}}He said about 100 people were arrested for taking part in Monday night’s violence. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere else in the district. The Rapid Action Force from Mumbai reached in Ichalkaranji late in the noon.
{{/usCountry}}At Manerajuri village in Sangli district, police opened fire on Monday night, injuring four persons, as a mob attacked them around 9.30 pm. Clashes between the police and villagers went on for three hours before the situation was brought under control.