18 arrested over communal violence in Pune; over 500 booked

The police have arrested a total of 18 persons and registered five FIRs against more than 500 individuals in connection with the communal violence in Yavat village of Pune district that broke out over an alleged objectionable status on a social messaging platform, officials said on Saturday.

The youth who posted the objectionable status on WhatsApp is among the arrested accused along with 17 others held for their alleged involvement in arson and vandalism during the violence at Yavat in Daund tehsil. A local court sent 15 of them in police custody for four days, they said.

Communal tension erupted and incidents of violence took place in Yavat village on Friday afternoon, in which several groups of persons, angered by the social media post, vandalised and set ablaze properties. “So far, we have registered five cases in this regard. Four of these cases are against more than 500 people,” a police official said.