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Tension in Rajasthan town after bandh by Bajrang Dal

Special Correspondent

Demands release of 24 persons held for violence

Dal activists forcibly close all markets in the town
More forces deployed; peace committee meeting held by Minister

JAIPUR: Tension prevailed in Dungarpur town in southern Rajasthan on Sunday with the Bajrang Dal organising a bandh in support of its demand for the release of 24 persons arrested in connection with the violence on Friday, when a dozen shops and several vehicles were torched in the district town.

Prohibitory orders were imposed in the city following violent clashes between two communities earlier this week.

Despite the police arresting four persons in the case, Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists indulged in arson and allegedly provoked the tribals to attack the houses and shops of Muslim community on Friday.

Bajrang Dal activists forcibly closed all markets in the town on Sunday with the demand that the 24 persons arrested on Friday be released forthwith. Police sources said there was no incident of fresh violence in the city and heavy force, including a company of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), had been deployed to prevent any untoward incident.

Congress leader and chairperson of the National Commission for Women, Girija Vyas, visited Dungarpur on Sunday and met a large number of people from both the communities.

State Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria had convened a meeting of the peace committee in the city on Saturday and appealed to people to sort out their differences amicably. He visited the places affected by violence and assessed the damage caused in arson.

In addition to the 12 shops set on fire, a hospital run by a local medical practitioner was completely destroyed by arsonists.

The Bajrang Dal activists also reportedly tried to set a mosque on fire late on Friday night.

A bandh was also observed in Begun town of the neighbouring Chittaurgarh district on Sunday in protest against the participants in a religious procession allegedly raising offensive slogans on Saturday.

Police have detained five persons for questioning in this connection.

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