Clashes erupted after a disagreement over raising religious flags by both the communities in Jodhpur’s Jalori Gate area.
Jaipur: Fresh clashes erupted between two communities in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur on Tuesday after the previous night’s violence over a dispute involving flags in the Jalori Gate area ahead of Eid, the police said.
Stone-throwing and more violence was reported in five areas, while the police used force to bring the situation under control.
Internet services were suspended in Jodhpur to stop people from spreading rumors, and the namaz for Eid was offered under police protection.
A three-day Parshuram Jayanti festival is also underway in Jodhpur, and religious flags put up by both communities led to a major argument that spiraled into clashes.
Policemen fired tear-gas shells and used sticks to disperse the crowd, which also attacked the local police post.
Stone-throwing left at least four policemen injured in the early hours of Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.
“Four policemen were injured in the stone-pelting. A heavy police force was deployed in the area to control the situation,” an official in the police control room told the agency.
The situation in remains tense. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who belongs to Jodhpur, appealed to the people to maintain peace.
“While respecting the tradition of love and brotherhood of Jodhpur, Marwar, I make a touching appeal to all the parties to maintain peace and cooperate in restoring law and order,” he said in a tweet.
Mr. Gehlot said he has instructed the administration to maintain peace and order.
The clashes are the latest in a surge of communal violence and tension around the country, fanned in no small part by hate-filled speeches by religious and political leaders.
The last few weeks have seen such clashes in at least five states – Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal – as India observed Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, and Ramadan.
