Jharkhand Violence: Police Arrest Over 50 People, Including BJP Leader

Tensions flared up in the industrial town over the alleged desecration of a religious flag, as per reports.

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A day after violence was reported from Shastrinagar in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur, the police arrested 50 people, including local BJP leader Abhay Singh.

Details: Violence, stone-pelting, and arson were reported from Shastrinagar on Sunday night, 9 April, according to PTI.

• A mob allegedly torched an autorickshaw

• The police reportedly tried to break up the mob by firing tear gas shells

The trigger? Tensions flared up over the alleged desecration of a religious flag.

• Members of a local organisation found that a piece of meat was tied to a Ram Navami flag, PTI reported the police as saying.

• Several organisations reportedly called for the culprits to be arrested in a day's time

Aftermath: Six people were reportedly injured in the clashes that broke out after two shops in the area were set ablaze.

Status quo: “Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 of CrPC were clamped in the area,” Sub-Divisional Officer (Dhalbhum) Piyush Sinha was quoted as saying.

• “We have been keeping strict vigil on the situation and deployed adequate police force, a Quick Response Team, a Magistrate, Rapid Action Force personnel and other anti-riot resources to maintain law and order,” East Singhbhum District Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav said in a statement

Of note: Besides imposing a curfew, the authorities have also reportedly ordered an internet shutdown in the locality.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced a gherao of the State Secretariat on Tuesday, 11 March, following which the Ranchi administration imposed Section 144 within a 200-metre radius of the building, news agency ANI reported.