A violent altercation erupted in the Gwalathai region of Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh on the occasion of Mahashivratri, following objections raised by members of the Muslim community against a Hindu religious gathering. The clash, which took place outside a steel factory, resulted in injuries on both sides and has since led to cross First Information Reports (FIRs) being filed by the police. However, authorities have dismissed allegations of a communal dispute, stating that the altercation stemmed from issues related to the local truck union.
According to reports, members of the truck operators’ union, primarily comprising Hindus from the Naina Devi Assembly constituency, had organised a bhandara in celebration of Mahashivratri. Tensions arose when individuals from the Muslim community allegedly objected to the event, leading to an argument that quickly escalated into violence.
Eyewitnesses reported that three individuals—two from the Hindu community, identified as Hoshiar Singh and Chaman Singh, and one from the Muslim community—sustained injuries during the clash. They were taken to a hospital for treatment. Some Hindu leaders have alleged that the confrontation turned violent after members of the Muslim community opened fire in an attempt to disperse the gathering, an allegation that the police have denied.
Hindu leaders have strongly condemned the incident, asserting that it was a targeted attack against those celebrating the Hindu festival. Kamal Goutaam, a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, described the assault as a “murderous attack” and accused Muslim community members of attempting to intimidate Hindus into halting their religious event.
Speaking to the media, Chaman Kumar, one of the injured, confirmed that the altercation had stemmed from the bhandara dispute. He further alleged that a group of attackers arrived in a Thar SUV and physically assaulted Hindu participants before resorting to gunfire.
In a Facebook post, Hindu leader Prashant K Ranjan criticised the authorities for allegedly attempting to suppress the victims’ accounts. He wrote, “The information we published on social media was based on the accounts of the victims. We are neither afraid of action nor will we be silenced. The police should listen to the victims, who have clearly stated that gunfire was involved, while the police continue to deny it.”
Earlier, Kamal Gautam had taken to Facebook, accusing Muslim groups of trying to impose “mafia rule” in the region. He claimed that individuals from the Illewal area had openly declared that they would not allow Hindu religious events in the locality. Goutaam alleged that when Hindus resisted, they were attacked and that gunfire was used with the intent to kill.
He went on to name several individuals he accused of orchestrating the attack, including Ramzan Khan, Jogi Khan, Jagga Khan, Shammu Khan, Salim Khan, Kaku Khan, and Achharu Khan, while demanding a fair investigation and strict legal action against the accused.
Despite the serious allegations, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bilaspur, Sandeep Dhawal, has refuted claims of a communal angle, maintaining that the dispute arose due to issues within the local truck operators’ union.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the altercation was related to the truck union and was not a religious dispute,” SP Dhawal stated. He added that the police had registered cross FIRs in the matter—one on the day of the incident and the second on the following day. Law enforcement agencies are currently analysing CCTV footage from the area to establish the sequence of events leading to the clash.
Responding to allegations of gunfire, SP Dhawal remarked, “So far, there is no evidence of shots being fired, but we are investigating all claims.” He further warned against the spread of misinformation on social media, cautioning that legal action would be taken against those found to be making unverified claims.
The incident has sparked concerns over communal sensitivities in the region, with leaders from both communities making conflicting claims. While Hindu organisations have accused the Muslim community of deliberate provocation and violence, the police insist that the dispute is rooted in business and union-related tensions rather than religious animosity.
