Migrants, Muslim community members clash, 13 nabbed
Tension erupted in a Bihari colony, falling in the jurisdiction of the Moti Nagar police station, during the Holi celebrations on Friday after migrants celebrating the festival came face to face with members of the Muslim community outside a mosque. After getting information, a large number of police personnel, led by ADCP Prabhjot Singh Virk, reached the place to control the situation.
The police had cordoned off the area but migrants continued to create hue and cry. To control the situation, the police used mild lathicharge to disperse them.
A PCR motorcycle was also damaged by the crowd and some police officials suffered minor injuries while controlling the mob.
Stones, bricks and bottles were pelted at each other by members of both groups due to which glasses of the mosque were damaged.
The Ludhiana police registered a case against 21 persons — Vinod, Ajit, Kashi Ram, Gagan, Ashok, Krishna, Krishan, Sandeep, Pappu, Manoj, Vidyarthi, Jatinder, Dharminder, Munna, Birju, Ghanayia, Babbu, Manand Lal, Amarjit, Lachman and Sarwan — and several unidentified persons. Thirteen persons were arrested by the police while raids were being conducted to nab the remaining identified suspects.
As per sources, members of the Muslim community had gathered to offer namaz in the mosque and on the other side, migrants in a large number were celebrating Holi by playing a loud music. The former had urged the migrants to at least reduce the music for sometime so they could offer namaz. But they did not budge due to which tension erupted. Both groups started pelting stones, bottles against each other. Afterwards, the members of the Muslim community entered the mosque for safety. The entire incident got captured in CCTV cameras installed in the mosque. On the basis of the CCTV footage and statement of representatives of the mosque, a case was registered against the migrants.
The ADCP said as per the initial investigation, a case was registered against 21 identified persons and 13 were already arrested. A clash had occurred between the migrants and Muslim community members. During the initial probe, migrants were booked and in further probe, if role of any other persons from the Muslim community was found, their names would be added to the FIR accordingly. Investigation in the case was on. Guilty in the case would face action.
