Stills from the Malvani attacks, credits: News Agency ANI
After Sambhajinagar, Mumbai’s suburb area Malvani witnessed an attack on the Ram Navami procession taking the toll of Islamists attacking Shobha Yatra to three in Maharashtra. Notably, the attackers targeted the processions as soon as the procession crossed the Mosque. Many injuries were reported, the police detained as many as twenty people for creating ruckus.
On March 30, at Malvani, Malad (west), the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra was passing by the mosque. First, the locals objected to the high volume of the DJ and later the stone pelting began from all around.
Notably many media reports have quoted, Tajindar Tiwana, a local activist, who said, when the large procession passed in front of a masjid in gate number 7 area the loudspeakers were switched off “as in years before.”
News Agency ANI quoted the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ajay Bansal saying, “Tension prevailed for some time during the Ram Navami procession in Malvani area but the police handled it & the situation is under control. One person suffered minor injuries in the incident. Legal action is being taken & further probe is underway”.
After the attacks, the police detained as many as 20 people and have also registered a case against 300 unidentified miscreants.
“The procession was taken out after permission from the police, it was stopped in between during the time of namaz. Despite that such incident is unfortunate. Dy CM Fadnavis has ordered the probe. Normalcy was restored & many people were arrested,” said Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha.
Attacks at Sambhajinagar
Violent clashes broke out between two groups at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar’s Kiradpura area in Maharashtra on March 29. The attacker targeted unarmed Hindu youths preparing for the Ram Navami procession at Kiradpura Ram mandir. The situation is now under control, but the police claimed a mob of as many as 500 attacked them as well.
Notably, the area has a high Muslim population, but every year a procession is carried out from the Ram Mandir Kiradpura. This year too, the enthusiastic youngsters were preparing for the peaceful procession.
After 12:30, a minor scuffle broke out between a Hindu and a Muslim boy. Soon, hundreds of mobsters assembled in front of the temple and started pelting stones. The attackers also targeted the police vehicles and they set ablaze as many as nine police vans.
As per the locals, the attackers were well equipped with stones, sticks and even petrol bombs.
The attacks in Paldhi, Jalgaon
Similar attacks were made in the Paldhi region of Jalgaon district where clashes broke out after the procession crossed the Mosque with DJ Music. The attackers targeted the procession with stones and sticks.
The police have made 45 arrests and registered two FIRs in the case so far.
Authorities in different parts of the country banned the DJ processions as the festival clashed with Ramzan. Targeted curfews were imposed in sensitive areas considering the law and order situation still such attacks have come to light.
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