Amravati Riot
Curfew in Maharashtra's Amravati as fresh violence erupts after Friday's stone pelting, attacks
Amravati (Maharashtra)/IBNS: The authorities have imposed a curfew in Maharashtra's Amravati on Saturday after the incidents of violence on Friday triggered more violence today morning as a huge mob of hundreds went on a rampage, destroying shops and private property, media reports said.
The Indian Express reported that the local police failed to contain the violence despite lathicharge as the attackers greatly outnumbered them.
As a result, the Maharashtra Police later dispatched four companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and another 125 police personnel to stop the crowd.
Maharashtra | Section 144 has been imposed in Amravati in view of protests against Tripura violence, Amravati's guardian minister Yashomati Thakur said
— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2021
(File pic) pic.twitter.com/x3mssD8fl2
How it all started
On Friday, rallies were held by Muslim organisations in protest against the Tripura communal violence without due police permission. During the protest, stones were also pelted in Amravati city. Violence erupted in Amravati, Nanded and Malegaon during the rallies organised by the minority community.
To oppose the incidents of stone pelting, a saffron body called a bandh in the city on Saturday.
However, this attracted further backlash as a huge mob went on a rampage, hurling stones and damaging shops at various places in Amravati city.
The Indian Express reported that today, around 10 am, several news channels showed a mob destroying shops in the presence of police officers, including a woman police officer who is seen lathicharging them.
The news channels showed how the local police fought hard to push back the crowd but failed to disperse them because of their small number.
We condemn the violence. I spoke to Devendra Fadnavis, Amravati MP to help maintain social harmony and peace. We are focusing on how to keep the situation under control and maintain peace: Maharashtra HM Dilip Walse Patil on violence in rallies at Amravati, Nanded and Malegaon pic.twitter.com/sBFDlerona
— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2021
“The violence is limited to Amravati city and the situation is now under control. We have sent four companies of SRPF and 125 police personnel and will send more if needed,” a senior Maharashtra Police official was quoted as saying by Indian Express on Saturday afternoon.
The situation was under control by afternoon, a police official said, adding that a curfew has been clamped as a preventive measure.
The report cited above said that Saturday’s vandals were said to have connection with political party but on Friday the violence was triggered by those from the minority community.
In reaction to the Friday's incidents, Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil had on Friday promised stern action against those involved in violence and the state BJP had called for a bandh in Amravati till 4 pm Saturday to show their protest against the violence.
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