TENSION PREVAILS IN ARA FOLLOWING STONE PELTING ON TAZIA PROCESSION, TWO ARRESTED

TENSION PREVAILS IN ARA FOLLOWING STONE PELTING ON TAZIA PROCESSION, TWO ARRESTED

9-SEP-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------Tension prevails in and around Ara, headquarters of Bhojpur district after brick-batting on Tazia procession in the night on the Chehallum despite heavy police deployment in the area. An attempt was made to spoil the atmosphere by pelting stones in which some persons were injured and the sudden stone pelting created panic among the people. However, the matter was calmed down due to vigilance of the police administration and the police arrested two persons in this regard and also investigating the matter. Police patrolling is intensified and also police were deputed at every vintage to keep round the clock vigil and also to maintain law and order. Two separate FIRs were lodged with the police under Ara town police station against five named persons and some unidentified persons of both the groups. The first FIR was lodged with the police under Ara town police station on the statement of the Magistrate Nitish Kumar in which he blamed that a Tazia procession originated from Bhaluhipur was returning at about 11pm and when it reached near Sheesh Mahal Chowk , people of a particular religion waved flag from the roof of a jewelry shop and when objected they pelted with stones. The people of other group also retaliated in the same manner. The Second FIR was lodged on the statement of Md Guddu, Khalifa of Bhaluhipur Tazia Committee against two named and about a dozen unnamed persons. He blamed in theFIR that stones were thrown on the Tazia procession from the roof of a jewelry shop at Sheesh Mahal Chowk and fired though the police refuted any incident of firing.

Tazia processions were taken out from many areas of Ara in night and hundreds of women, children and other people from all over the town gathered at the Sheesh Mahal Chowk to have a glimpse of Tazia. As the Tazia moved towards Gopali Chowk located near the Sheesh Mahal Chowk under Ara town police station, anti-social elements first people of heterogeneous group waved flag from the roof of a jewelry shop situated at Sheesh Mahal Chowk and when objected, they pelted stones on the Tajia procession in which two persons were injured and were admitted to the Ara Sadar Hospital.

Bhojpur SP Pramod Kumar Yadav said that Chehallum and Janmashtmi procession were taken out peacefully everywhere in Bhojpur district but when the Tajia procession was about to end at Ara under Ara town police station, two brothers from the roof of a jewelry shop at Sheesh Mahal Chowk dropped some stones in which two persons got hurt. Some mischievous elements from the crowd also retaliated and pelted stones. The magistrate and policemen deployed at the spot informed the senior officials of the district immediately and also tried to control the situation. The police arrested both the brothers from the roof of the jewelry shop and also are trying to mark some other from the CCTV footage. The SP said that police have been deployed at Sheesh Mahal Chowk to ensure that the communal atmosphere does not deteriorate further. He said situation is tense but under control. As a precautionary measure, the SP deputed police at every nook and corner of vulnerable points. The SP further stated that after the situation was brought under control, all the Tazias were taken for immersion. He added that the police are identifying those who pelted stones on the basis of CCTV footage and strict action would be taken against whoever is involved in stone pelting.

The SP added that one of the two arrested was in drunken stage and he confessed his fault.

It was said that the dispute took place at the Sheesh Mahal Chowk where anti-social elements pelted stones at women and children from the roof of Jewelry shop. The dispute escalated and stones started being pelted from other side too during which a stampede broke out on the spot. In in brick bat, the women and children who had come to watch the Tazia procession started running here and there and the anger of the people present there flared up.

On information, Bhojpur DM Raj Kumar, SP Pramod Kumar Yadav, SDM, Jyoti Nath Sahdeo, ASP, Chandra Prakash along with heavy police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Shanti Samiti was organized and people of both the groups agreed to main tranquility in the area.