New Delhi: Several areas were put under curfew in Jodhpur as tension simmered in pockets following religious clashes since Monday night.
The police said curfew is on around 10 police stations in the troubled city. Some of them are Udai Mandir, Nagori Gate, Khanda Phalsa, Pratap Nagar, Dev Nagar, Soor Sagar and Sardarpura. Restriction on movement will remain in these areas till midnight Wednesday.
The Internet has been switched off and Muslims offered namaz on Eid Tuesday under police protection.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who is from Jodhpur, held a top-level meeting Tuesday to assess the situation. He also rushed a strong force to the city.
Gehlot instructed Minister of State for Home Rajendra Yadav and Jodhpur in-charge minister Dr Subhash Garg, ACS Home Abhay Kumar, ADG Law and Order Hawa Singh Ghumaria to immediately take a copter to the city.
A three-day Parshuram Jayanti festival is under way in Jodhpur and clashes took place Monday night near the statue of freedom fighter Balmukund Bissa in Jalori Gate. Members of the minority community were installing Eid flags and they put up one on the roundabout alongside the Bissa statue.
During the fracas, a crowd also uprooted loudspeakers installed in the area for the Eid prayers. Several policemen were injured while they tried to rein in the sparring groups.
Clashes broke out again Tuesday morning at Jalori Gate following Eid prayers.
Chief Minister Gehlot called upon the people to help maintain law and order in line with “Jodhpur’s tradition of love and brotherhood”.
He also called the clashes unfortunate, ordering the administration to maintain peace at all costs.
Several states in India, including capital Delhi, saw religious clashes last month during the Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti festivals.
Also read: Maintain our tradition of love, brotherhood: Rajasthan CM appeals for calm after Jodhpur clashes