Clashes erupted in Telangana’s communally-sensitive Bhainsa town in Nirmal district on the evening of March 7 when two groups resorted to stone-pelting, which left 12 injured, including a policeman and a journalist. The situation is currently stable.
According to PTI, tensions began when two motorcycle riders from different communities ran into an argument over a road rage issue. The issue soon escalated into a full-blown clash with several others joining the argument. People began hurling stones. Several vehicles were also torched. Zulfekar Gully, Kabir Road, Ganesh Road, and Medhar Road areas in the town have been affected, as per local reports.
Around 500 additional forces were rushed to Bhainsa to bring the situation under control. The police finally managed to do so by 10.30 pm. The police declared prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPc to prevent the gathering of persons and since then, there has been no instance of violence reported from the town, they said.
Police said that during stone pelting, six civilians and three police officers suffered injuries, apart from material loss in the form of fire damage to two houses, two autorickshaws, two four-wheelers and five two-wheelers.
As many as 50 people have been taken into custody and cases have been filed against them. The district police are reviewing CCTV footage to carry out the investigation.
Meanwhile, Telangana minister K.T. Rama Rao appealed to people in the town to maintain peace and not to fall prey to rumours and hate-mongering spearheaded by divisive forces. He also took to Twitter and said that the Telangana government will not tolerate lawlessness.
On the other hand, Minister of State for home affairs, G. Kishan Reddy, who hails from Telangana, said that Amit Shah had called him to inquire about the incident and the prevailing situation in the town.
Telangana Police on Tuesday put under house arrest Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Nizamabad, Arvind Dharmapuri, after stopping him from visiting the communally affected town of Bhainsa. The police also filed 13 cases and took into custody around 40 people, including BJP leaders, in connection with the clashes.
