NewDelhi : Four people, including two home guards, a civilian and an Imam, were killed and several police personnel were injured in clashes that broke out on Monday during a religious procession taken out by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Haryana’s Nuh.

Eye witnesses said that a mob attacked Nuh’s Gorakhnath Temple. The miscreants attacked the temple’s priest and burnt down a motorcycle. The priest had bruise marks on his body. They also resorted to stone pelting.

Three people died in Nuh while the Imam was killed in Gurugram.

Two people, including an Imam, were attacked on Monday night outside an under-construction mosque in Gurugram’s Sector-56.

Around three-four men attacked Imam Mohmmad Saad and Khursheed with sticks. Khursheed was also shot in the leg and he is said to be critical, while Saad was killed in the attack.

According to some of the eyewitnesses, around five people were present in the under-construction mosque when the attack happened. Others had to hide themselves.

The violence initially erupted in Haryana’s Nuh during a religious procession when a mob tried to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession on Monday. Stones were thrown and cars were set on fire as clashes erupted between the two groups.

As news of the violence in Nuh spread, protesters from two communities clashed near Sohna Road in Gurugram, resulting in damage to several vehicles. Protesters also blocked a road for hours.

According to a Haryana government official, “The situation is under control in Nuh, Sohna, and adjoining districts. As many as 13 Companies of Paramilitary forces have been stationed there and more companies will be reaching shortly. No curfew is imposed in Faridabad, Palwal, and Gurugram, however, section 144 is imposed to avoid any untoward incident in these districts. Peace Committee meeting will commence shortly in Gurugram’s Sohna.”

INTERNET SUSPENDED, SCHOOLS CLOSED

In the wake of the violent incidents, all schools and colleges in Gurugram and Faridabad will remain closed on Tuesday, August 1. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) were imposed in Gurugram and Nuh.

Mobile internet services have been suspended in Nuh district till Wednesday, August 2, to contain the “intense communal tension”, said the Haryana government.

According to District Information & Public Relations Officer, Faridabad, “All educational institutions including schools, colleges, and coaching centres in Faridabad district will remain closed today, August 1.”

“All educational institutions including schools, colleges, and coaching centers in Gurugram district will remain closed on Tuesday. We urge all educational institutions to strictly adhere to these orders,” the Gurugram District Magistrate said in a tweet on Monday.

About 2,500 men, women and children at a Shiva temple in Nuh were evacuated by police, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said. These apparently included devotees and those who had taken shelter there as the two sides clashed.

“Paramilitary force and Haryana STF have been deployed at the site. The DGP himself is monitoring the situation,” the official said.

The police official said that the situation is presently under control.

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij appealed to the people to maintain peace in the state. The minister said that the state government dispatched additional forces to Nuh from neighboring districts. He added that they are trying to send forces using helicopters.

Nuh’s Cyber Police Station has been attacked and ransacked. Miscreants looted a bus and then used it to break the wall of the police station. Three police vehicles have been burned down. Police sources say the miscreants specifically targeted Cyber Police Station for their recent crackdown against cyber thugs.

According to a constable of the cyber crime station, about 1,000 people attacked the station.

“As many as four vehicles were burnt outside the police station. The protesters first tried to break the main gate of the police station but when the gate was not broken, they broke it with a bus,” said the police personnel.

CONSPIRACY BEHIND HARYANA CLASHES: ANIL VIJ

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij hinted at a conspiracy behind the communal clashes in the state, saying the both communities have been staying in Nuh peacefully for a long time.

OPPOSITION TARGETS KHATTAR GOVT

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Opposition Congress and INLD on Monday targeted the BJP-JJP government in Haryana over the Nuh violence, alleging that the ruling combine has failed on the law and order front.

“BJP-JJP has proved to be a complete failure in maintaining law and order in the state. The violence in Nuh is the result of failure of this government,” said Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly.

“The government should understand its responsibility and do everything possible with sensitivity to maintain peace,” Hooda said.

HOW THE VIOLENCE STARTED

A group of people threw stones at a rally being taken out by Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers near Nand village in Nuh district.

Vehicles were torched and stones were thrown as clashes broke out over reports of cow vigilante and Bhiwani deaths case accused Monu Manesar of visiting Mewat.

Monu Manesar’s name was mentioned in the FIR registered over the death of Nasir and Junaid in February this year. Their charred remains were found in a Bolero in Haryana’s Bhiwani district.

From: Indiatoday