Tension grips Udaipurwati after youth opens fire at fair

Tension and panic gripped Udaipurwati town of Jhunjhunu district on Sunday night when on the last day of a handicrafts fair, a youth opened fire.

The situation snow-balled and locals were attacked by the youth’s supporters who even pelted stones at the police station. A local leader of Bajrang Dal got injured while trying to end the scuffle.

Meanwhile, on Monday the markets remained closed while Bajrang Dal carried out a massive rally in protest of the incident, following which prohibitory orders were issued.

For the past seven days the Handicrafts fair was being run in the Khel Maidan area of Udaipurwati town.“Sunday was the last day of the fair, however in the evening a youth opened fire in the air. Though the shot did not hit anyone, locals caught hold of the youth and were taking him to cops when suddenly they were attacked by a group of youths.

Immediately the group started pelting stones and raising slogans. They even targeted locals and beat them.

During this time one Rohitash Saini - local leader of Bajrang Dal - trying to put the scuffle to end was targeted and beaten severely,” officials said.The groups were then dispersed by the cops as the youth who opened fire was handed over to cops. “Immediately additional forces were deployed as RAC was also called in.

Forces were deployed in every part of the town. On Monday morning locals did not open their shops for work and observed a bandh.

A flag march was conducted towards evening and prohibitory orders (Section 144) were imposed. Cases against twenty one men have been registered and several have been arrested as well,” officials said.