The Hindu : National : Curfew extended at Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur district

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Curfew extended at Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur district

Staff Reporter

Mumbai: Curfew was extended on Tuesday for the next 24 hours at Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, which witnessed communal violence on Monday.

One person was killed and three others were injured in a mob attack on Monday, Director-General of Police S.S. Virk told The Hindu.

He said a “fairly big” mob entered a house near the Jawahar mosque. “There were three to four able-bodied males in the house and swords as well.” The members used the swords in defence, killing one.

Ninety people were arrested for rioting and arson. In fact, there were several incidents of mobs from one community targeting the houses of another all over Ichalkaranji, he said. On Tuesday, the State sought four companies of the Rapid Action Force for the riot-torn areas.

Meanwhile, curfew was relaxed for two hours at Sangli and an hour at Miraj.

On Monday night, between 8 p.m. and 2.30 a.m. Manerajuri village, near Tasgaon city in Sangli district, turned into a virtual battleground, as the police clashed with mobs. A rumour went around that a woman who had allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison, was administered the poison by members of one community, Krishna Prasad, Sangli Superintendent of Police, told The Hindu.

Following the rumour, a crowd of 5,000 arrived in truckloads, carrying swords and chanting “Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji.”

It allegedly fired at the police with country-made revolvers.

Mr. Prasad said that when firing of teargas shells and plastic bullets failed to disperse the crowd, the police opened fire. Two persons were injured in the firing.

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