Nitish Kumar government has banned internet services in violence affected areas of Bihar after communal violence broke out in parts of Saran district on Friday.The internet services are banned till 8th of August. The communal clashes reportedly started following the circulation of a video and obscene images of dieties of a community through social media platforms WhatsApp and Facebook.
The clashes spread to Chhapra district of Bihar by Saturday. Rioters indulged in brick-batting and damaged several police vehicles. District Magistrate Deepak Anand was also injured in the clashes. More than 2000 armed security had to be deployed on the streets to ensure the communal clashes don’t spread further.
Various Hindu organisations had also called for a bandh on Saturday. Shops, schools and colleges across the city, remained closed. Incidents of vandalisation and loot have also been reported in areas of Hathua Market, Sahebgabj and Khanua.
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Rail and road traffic was also disrupted for several hours, paralysing the city and bringing it to a stand still. Mobs also attacked police teams in Taraiya, Amnaur and Marhaura region. Use of mild lathi charge and firing of several rounds of tear gas was seen by the police to disperse the protest.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC have been imposed in the city. According to the reports, a case under Section 67 (A) of the information technology Act and 295 (A) hurting religious sentiments of the IPC was registered against three persons, out of whom, two have been arrested.
