Indefinite curfew in Rajasthan’s Banswara after communal tension, 40 held

Our Correspondent 

Jaipur, May 13

Indefinite curfew clamped following tension between two communities over a disputed religious place in Kalikamata-Khatwar locality of Banswara was on Saturday expanded to entire Kotwali area after miscreants pelted with stones some senior police officers during a ‘peace march’.

No relaxation in curfew was given as the situation in the major area of city under Kotwali was tense but under control, Banswara SP Kaluram Rawat told The Tribune.

IG, Udaipur Range, Anand Srivastava has arrived to supervise the situation, he said.

Since Thursday night, thatched roofs, motorcycles, car, hand driven carts and kiosks were gutted in 40-50 incidents of arson. Forty people from both communities were arrested as a preventive measure, the SP said.

Six companies of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary, RTF and local cops were deployed in the area along with senior cops from Udaipur division.

The reason behind the tension is a disputed religious place, where no prayer was held in the recent past following a mutual understanding, but some persons lit ‘agarbatti’ which was objected to by members of the other community leading to violent clashes. 

At least 10 persons, including five policemen, had got injured in last two days in stone pelting, mild lathicharge and bursting of teargas shells, the SP said.

A review meeting would be held later tonight to decide whether to relax curfew and also to hold a peace meeting or march tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in a statement, PCC president Sachin Pilot expressed serious concern over such incidents and appealed to people to maintain harmony.