Our Correspondent / Gaya / Aurangabad
District administrations have imposed prohibitory order and Section 144 following communal clashes in Aurangabad district. According to reports the members of two communities clashed during Ram Navami celebrations leading to arson and heavy stone-pelting. Many people were injured and dozens of shops gutted.
Speaking to media, Aurangabad District Magistrate Rahul Ranjan Mahiwal said that the situation in the town is tense but under control. “We have clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC. The situation in the town is tense but under control,” Mahiwal said.
District magistrate Rahul Ranjan Mahiwal and superintendent of police Dr Satya Prakash rushed to the trouble spots to bring the situation under control. Soon, a government vehicle moved in the localities announcing the imposition of curfew and shoot-at-sight orders.
CRPF personnel also used mild lathi charge to disperse the rioting mobs.
Mahiwal, however, said curfew was not imposed. He said the administration issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the entire town. He also did not confirm whether a shoot-at-sight order was issued by the administration. “More than 50 peoole have been taken into custody,” he said, adding “the situation is under control.”
Meanwhile, in Bihar Assembly, Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, alleged that for the past several hours riots had been taking place at Aurangabad and shops belonging to a particular community were being set on fire.
Yadav hurled his allegations while state minister Vijender Yadav was reading out the government’s reply to the debate on the budgetary allocation for the Home department.
Upset over the situation, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar intervened and said the floor of the House must not be used to give publicity to rumours which could aggravate communal tensions.
The Bihar Chief Minister added that Ram Navami had passed off peacefully in Bihar “with a few exceptions”, adding, that there was no report of curfew or police firing in Aurangabad.
“If you (Tejashwi) try to give vent to rumours through the House, it vitiates the atmosphere…Please don’t do such things,” Kumar was quoted as saying.
Kumar suggested that a ‘local issues’ should not be made state-level issues. “If there is any local issue and you want to make it a state-level one through the House, then it will be construed that you are willing to whip up passions… We all should try to maintain peace and amity,” the chief minister said.