1 dead, 3 injured in fresh communal violence in Bihar's Jehnabad

A day after a clash occurred between two communities during an immersion procession of idols of goddess Durga in Jehanabad, a fresh round of communal violence erupted in the Bihar city on Friday (October 11), claiming the life of one person and injuring three others.

The reports of one death and the other injuries were confirmed by District Magistrate Naveen Kumar and Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey. The deceased was identified as Vishnu Yadav, reported news agency PTI.

The DM said that the residents of Jakarganj locality attacked Yadav and Bittu Kumar in Gaurakshmi colony early Friday morning, leading to the death of the former at a hospital, where the latter who received bullet injury in his leg is undergoing treatment, the report said.

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DM Naveen Kumar further said that the police have arrested 12 residents of Jakarganj and have recovered a number of swords from their houses. “The attackers also hurled stones at the security personnel after they opened fire. One Rapid Action Force commando and a local resident were injured and have been hospitalised,” he was quoted as saying.

The situation is tense, but under control, the District Magistrate asserted.

Speaking to PTI-Bhasha in Patna, DGP Pandey blamed the casualty and the injuries on “skirmish between anti-social elements which followed opening of fire from one side.”

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He said that the situation had been brought under control on Thursday itself and that the immersion of idols was resumed late in the evening. Situation has once again been brought under control after the early morning incident, the DGP said.

Trouble began on Thursday morning when a stone was thrown at the procession being taken out for immersion of idols near the Arwal More. The devotees blamed by-standers belonging to another community for the same after which both sides indulged in heavy stone-pelting which had left 14 people injured.

Several shops in the area were set on fire by the rampaging mobs and the situation was brought under control after prohibitory orders were issued invoking Section 144 of CrPC, heavy deployment of forces was put in place and the DM, besides SP Manish, camped in the area.

(With inputs from agencies)