The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : Minister visits violence-hit town; provokes people's ire

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Tuesday, Apr 12, 2005

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Other States - Rajasthan

Minister visits violence-hit town; provokes people's ire

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, APRIL 11. Indefinite curfew clamped on Mandal town in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan following communal violence that claimed one life last Friday was relaxed today for six hours in two stages, during which a Gangaur procession was taken out peacefully and a palanquin was brought to the local Chabhuja temple. A post-Holi procession carrying the palanquin in the town was allegedly stoned on Friday, triggering violence and police firing.

Tension prevails in the nearby Jahazpur and Raila towns following the district administration's refusal to allow the Tazia processions marking the completion of Muharram, even as an all-party committee constituted by the State Assembly visited Mandal and Karjalia on Sunday. The majority of the Muslim families in Karjalia have reportedly migrated following their social boycott.

The Home Minister, Gulab Chand Kataria, who went to Mandal with other members of the committee, had an altercation with a delegation of local Muslims, who accused the police of taking one-sided action by arresting 25 Muslims on charges of throwing stones and thrashing innocent youths belonging to the minority community. Mr. Kataria disagreed with the charge of Muslims and said the culprits would not be spared.

Mr. Kataria and other members of the committee were whisked away in police protection when the dissatisfied Muslims raised slogans against the Minister and charged him with being lenient with the rioters. They especially alleged that the Muslim Government officials were being implicated in false cases as a ploy to tarnish their service record. The committee's members included the former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Shiv Charan Mathur.

Mr. Kataria also met the next of kin of Kanhaiyalal Bairagi, who was killed in the firing, and expressed his condolence. Six persons were injured in the clash and the rioters set ablaze over a dozen shops and damaged a portion of a mosque. The trouble had started after a saffron flag was found hoisted atop the mosque on Friday morning.

Police registered two cases in connection with the disruption of the procession and one case regarding the hoisting of flag on the mosque. While 25 persons have so far been arrested on charges of stone-pelting, police were still looking for the culprits in the third case.

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