Two policemen were injured in stone-pelting, a shop was set on fire and two vehicles were damaged following communal violence in a Jodhpur locality, reports PTI.
According to Jodhpur West Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Kumar Yadav, the clashes began Friday night over the construction of a gate behind an eidgah near Rajaram Circle in the Soor Sagar area.
Tension escalated last night when some individuals threw stones, injuring two policemen, DCP Yadav stated.
“A shop and a tractor were set on fire, and a jeep was vandalised,” a senior police officer said.
Police responded by dispersing the crowd using batons and firing 4-5 rounds of tear gas shells. Although the situation was brought under control late Friday night, the area remained tense. Heavy police and Rajasthan Armed Constabulary forces were deployed Saturday morning to maintain order.
Police Commissioner Rajendra Singh said two FIRs had been filed based on complaints from both sides. Authorities have detained individuals from both groups and are conducting raids in the locality to apprehend suspects.
The violence erupted following resistance from locals to the construction of the wall behind the eidgah on Friday evening.
Police said people from both sides have been taken into custody. Police are still raiding houses in the locality to apprehend suspects.
According to police, the trouble began on Friday evening when construction of a wall behind the eidgah was started, sparking resistance from local residents. The situation escalated into violence later, with incidents of stone-pelting, arson, and vandalism reported.
Upon police arrival, they used batons to disperse the crowd. During the unrest, some people set fire to a tractor parked along the roadside and damaged another vehicle. Police attempting to approach the crowd encountered a barrage of stones hurled at them, briefly halting their progress.
Efforts to restore calm included negotiations facilitated by senior community leaders and police. However, the peace was short-lived as sudden renewed stone-pelting intensified tensions once more.