A bike rally organised to celebrate Nav Samvastar, the first day of the new year under the Hindu calendar, in Rajasthan’s Karauli was disrupted as it came under heavy attack by a Muslim mob.
The Muslim mob not only pelted stones on the rally, it set on fire multiple bikes and shops. About 50 people, including four policemen, were injured who were admitted to various hospitals in the city. One Pushpendra, whose condition is very serious, was referred to Jaipur.
The procession started only after the due permission from the administration and route was also cleared by the administration.
When the procession reached Muslim-dominated Hatwara bazar, it came under heavy stone pelting. The Muslim mob set the shops of Hindus and their vehicles on fire.
“Hindu outfits were taking out a religious bike rally on the occasion of Hindu new year today evening. While the procession reached near a mosque, some miscreants pelted stones on them,”said ADG Administration and Law & Order, Hawa Singh Ghumaria.
The ADG further said, “More than 20 people sustained injuries. Most of the injuries are minor in nature. One person sustained injuries in the head and has been referred to Jaipur in a critical condition. We have rounded up two dozen people and curfew has been imposed in the area.”
Former Rajasthan chief minister and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje blamed the people of ‘virodhi mansikta’ for the attack on the procession.
“I strongly condemn the attack on the rally in Karauli on the occasion of Nav Samvatsar by people from opposing mentality. Hateful mindset can’t be allowed to grow in Rajasthan. The administration should take strong action against the culprits,” Smt. Raje posted on Twitter.
The BJP state president Satish Poonia blamed the appeasement policies of the Congress government in Rajasthan for the attack on procession.
“The Congress government’s appeasement policy is responsible for it. No arrest has been made so far. It was a planned attack at the bike rally which was organised on the Hindu new year,” Shri Poonia said.
The administration has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibit the assembly of four or more people in the area, in the area to maintain law & order. Reports also suggested knives were used by the Muslim mob in the attack as some victims had knife marks on their bodies.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that he had instructed the police to take strict action against the culprits and appealed to the people to maintain peace.
