On the third day of the communal tension that kept Shahpur in the old city on the edge, senior police officers, including police commissioner SK Saikya, met leaders from the two communities and held peace meetings.
On the third day of the communal tension that kept Shahpur in the old city on the edge, senior police officers, including police commissioner SK Saikya, met leaders from the two communities and held peace meetings. At the same time, the police arrested 11 people in connection with the incident.
Saikya, accompanied by senior officers, met community leaders on Monday morning. The idea was to understand the root of the problem and also appeal the community leaders to help police in maintaining peace in the area.
"We held two meetings with the community leaders and tried to understand the issue," a police source told DNA. The source said that the issue of prayers offered in a temple and namaz offered in a mosque at the same time had gradually triggered tension in the area. He said they expected to sort out the issue of timing of prayers for both the communities after interacting with the leaders.
Late on Sunday evening, the police arrested 11 people in connection with the case. The arrest was made on charges of pelting stones and assaulting on-duty police officers during the riots. The police had arrested five people on Saturday. Of the total 16 arrested till now, eight are from each community.
The police have filed five complaints in the case and have increased patrolling points in the area. The areas which remained tense during last three days were Burkhp Temple, Ramesh Chowk, Karunasagar Temple, Jagdish Colony and Kagdiwaad. The trouble started on Saturday when a group was passing by a mosque in Nagoriwad. In the group were around 15 people who were on their way to Sabarmati river to immerse an idol of Lord Krishna.
Arguments began among the group and another group asked the people not to make noise as it was time to offer namaaz. The arguments soon went out of control and communal tension raised head in the area. As many as five people were injured in the clashes on Sunday. Sources said five huts were set on fire by an angry mob belonging to both the communities.
The police believe that petrol bombs were used by the mob to set the huts on fire.
Assistant Commissioner of Police 'C' Division, NN Gohil had said, "The police lobbed 20 teargas shells to curb tension.”
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