Stone pelting and clashes erupted between the members of two communities on Tuesday, 9 August, during Muharram processions in Bareilly and Varanasi districts. The incident caused injuries to several people, police said.
Some people from the Hindu community in Majhoua village under Bhojipura police station area of Bareilly complained about the use of a DJ in the tazia procession, saying a “new tradition” was being set, police said.
They allegedly hurled stones at the people participating in the procession, who retaliated, leading to the clash. Some people were hurt in the incident, the police added.
The further added that the officials rushed to the spot and somehow pacified the locals assuring them of strict action against those who created ruckus, and the procession was taken out.
'No New Tradition Will be Allowed': Police
Bareilly Superintendent of Police (Crime) SP Singh also said that "No new tradition will be allowed", adding police and PAC have been deployed in the village.
Strict action will be taken against those who try to start a new tradition, Singh said, adding that the search is on to nab the stone pelters.
A similar incident took place in Varanasi where people belonging to different communities clashed with sticks and hurled stones at each other which led to a clash at the time of taking out a tazia procession from Jansa police station area to Kardhana village of Mirzamurad police station area.
Around six people were injured in the clash, the police said.
At the time of taking out the tazia a dispute started between the two sides over cutting the branch of a tree leading to stone pelting and both the factions armed with lathis clashed in which six people got injured, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Suryakant Tripathi said.
The situation was brought under control and extra force was deployed as a precautionary measure, he added.
The miscreants will be arrested after registering a case on behalf of the injured, the SP added.
Shia Muslims observe the Muharram in remembrance of the martyrdom of Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in the battle of Karbala.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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