Violence in Nanded continues, 4 stabbed, city tense

Violence in Nanded continues, 4 stabbed, city tense
ENS & AGENCIES

NANDED, SEPT 13: In a fresh outbreak of violence, unidentified attackers today stabbed four people even as uneasy calm prevailed in the city which witnessed clashes and arson during a Ganesh immersion procession yesterday.

The four villagers, who had come to the city for personal work, were stabbed, police said, adding they were hospitalised.

In all, 59 people were injured in the violence and the condition of two who received bullet wounds in police firing was stated to be critical, police said.

So far 24 miscreants had been arrested in connection with the rioting, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Ashok Chavan told media persons here.

District Guardian Minister Manikrao Thakre appealed to the people not to give a communal colour to the incident.

He said the Ganesh immersion procession was passing through a route approved by the authorities when stones were pelted on it "from inside the place of worship" leading to rioting and arson.

Chavan said additional security would be deployed, if necessary, in the city after reviewing the situation.

Thakre said stones were pelted on the procession ``from inside the place of worship'' and the situation turned violent leading to rioting and arson.

Chavan said all efforts would be made to safeguard the lives of the people. Additional security forces would be deployed, if necessary, after reviewing the situation, he said and warned that action would be taken against any official found lax in his duty.

Earlier, one person was killed and over 200 injured when police opened fire on a mob participating in the Ganesh immersion procession in Nanded on Tuesday night. The condition of at least three of the injured is critical, police said. Director General of Police Subhash Malhotra and Divisional Commissioner Pramod Mane arrived here to tackle the crisis.

The trouble arose when the procession reached a place of worship near Itwara area. While the processionists alleged that there was stone-throwing from within the place of worship, those inside accused the mob of throwing `gulal' over them.

Initially, the police lobbed tear gas and later resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the violent mob. However, with either sides charged up, the police opened fire. In all 14 rounds were fired, sources said.

Even as the mob dispersed it set fire to over 20 shops in the area. Most of Nanded remained closed today, partly in response to a `bandh' call given by the Shiv Sena, who have demanded the suspension of two senior police officials.

Nanded Assembly constituency is represented by Prakash Khedkar of the Shiv Sena. The city is also the hometown of former Union Minister S B Chavan.

The fact that the police had busted some Lashkar-e-Toiba links in this district recently, will weigh heavily on the State Government before it comes out with any simplistic explanation of the present crisis.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who reached Nanded late in the afternoon on Wednesday, has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.