Mumbai, May 14, 2023 (PPI-OT): After Manipur, curfew like restrictions have been imposed in Maharashtra, India, to curb violence. Clashes and stone pelting between two groups were reported in Akola district on Saturday night, prompting the police to clamp prohibitory orders. An offensive Instagram post about a religious leader triggered the violence in the district on late Saturday night, police told the media.
One person was killed and eight including two cops, were injured in the clashes and a heavy police force had to be deployed in the area to restore law and order, police said. The clashes erupted in the Old City police station area of Akola.
“One person was killed and eight others were injured. Those injured included two policemen. They were hurt when the rioters pelted stones,” Akola SP Sandeep Ghuge said. “The man killed in the violence has been identified as Vilas Gaikwad,” he added.
An ‘offensive’ Instagram post about a religious leader triggered a gathering at a police station at Akola on late Saturday night, police sources told India Today. The mob damaged around 7-8 vehicles in the area.
The clashes turned violent when members of another community also arrived at the spot and started hurling stones at the other group. Violence was reported in areas near Gangadhar Chowk, Pola Chowk, and Harihar Peth.
Additional police force was called in from rural areas Washim, Buldhana and Amravati of Akola district, Washim, Buldhana and Amravati. So far, 30 people involved in the violence have been taken into custody.
Heavy security was deployed in the city following the incident, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Monika Raut Raut said. One thousand personnel of the State Reserve Police from Amravati have been deployed in Akola city, she said.
Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made a veiled attack on the BJP, which lost the Karnataka Assembly poll, said it is good governance and not a ‘double engine’ government that can help a party win election. BJP had made ‘double engine’ (BJP government at the state and the Centre) its slogan in Karnataka, he added.
For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org