Normalcy returning to riot torn Gopalgunj District

By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net reporter,

Patna: Saran Division Commissioner Ashok Kumar Chauhan while talking to twocircles.net said:"Members from both the sides are taking round of the area to take locals in confidence. Situation is completely under control and no untoward incidence has been reported so far since the past few hours. We have taken all the precautionary measures to avoid recurrence of any unfortunate incident".

It is to be recalled that around yesterday afternoon tension broke out between the members of two communities in the Pathanpatti area of Gopalganj district in Bihar, which falls under Barawli police station.

Tension escalated when members of a particular community decided to follow through the route of Pathanpati area, along with the procession, led by a strong mob, for the purpose of idol immersion on the occasion of Saraswati puja.

Madrasa Insaful Uloom was put on fire but all the students were able to make safe exit.

Gopalganj tense, madrasa put on fire by ‘idol processionists’

By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net reporter,

Patna: A madrasa called Insaful Uloom and some houses of Muslims were put on fire today in Pathan Patti area of Barauli Police Station in Bihar’s Gopalganj district allegedly by a mob of thousands of processionists who were taking idols for immersion through a route never used for that purpose.

Eyewitness talks to TwoCircles.net:

In the ensuing clash between the two communities some people including some policemen have reportedly sustained injuries. A police sub-inspector is reported to have died of heart attack immediately after the incident.

Locals told TwoCircles.net that the idols of Hindu deity Saraswati was immersed some days back but people from five villages did not immerse their idols and were adamant to take them through the Muslim area which was never used for immersion procession. On that route fall a mosque and Madrasa Insaful Uloom. Village head had already written to authorities that the route should not be used. However, they remained adamant.

Today around 1 pm a mob of more than 10 thousand processionists from the five villages gathered at a place and proceeded with the idols to the route which was prohibited. The administration was aware of the situation as the news about growing tension in the area was coming in the local media for some days. But they did not do enough to keep the anti-social elements from executing their plan. Today the police force was deployed in the area. Yet, as soon as the mob reached Muslim area, they attacked the madrasa and put it on fire. They also put on fire some huts of Muslims, which followed stone pelting from the two sides and some people including policemen were injured. Some students of the madrasa were also injured while their belongings were burnt.

To control the situation security forces have been called in from neighboring districts of Muzaffarpur and Motihari. Senior police officers are camping in the area.

The area falls in Barauli Vidhan Sabha constituency which is currently represented by BJP MLA Ram Parvesh Singh, who is also state tourism minister. People say what happened today was well planned and executed keeping in view the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Communal tension broke out in Gopalgunj district

By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: As per the initial report available tension broke out in the Barawli area of Gopalganj district in Bihar when people from majority community were crossing the Pathanpatti area for the purpose of idol immersion on the occasion of Saraswati Puja.

Two groups from both communities clashed in the area which led to the injury of few people and a police inspector.

As per the sources the furious crowd has attacked some madrasas in the Pathanpatti area, which has led to the worsening of the situation.

Situation is still tense but under control.

District Magistrate, superintendent of Police and other admistration officials have reached the spot to take stock of the situation.

Further details are awaited.