AURANGABAD: A scuffle between youths of two communities escalated to a riot late on Wednesday in Ardhapur of Nanded district, leaving five police personnel, including a police sub-inspector, injured.
Several vehicles and a police jeep were also damaged. To bring the situation under control, the police had to fire multiple gas shells, a plastic bullet, and a bullet round in the air.
The police have so far arrested 10 people and eight have been detained — their role in the violence is being verified. The police have also booked 59 identified suspects, including two corporators, and around 100 unidentified suspects on charges of attempt to murder, assault and criminal force to deter a public servant from performing an official duty, unlawful assembly and rioting. In addition, the police have slapped sections of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act
Nanded superintendent of police Pramodkumar Shewale said, “The area where the incident took place has members of both communities. It has a history of communal friction fanned by local miscreants.”
He added the riot was triggered by a petty argument between youths from the two communities inside a local gym. The argument had started with accusations of the youths staring at each other. This was followed by one side assaulting the other.
Additional SP Vijay Kabade said, “As both groups of youths are closely associated with the corporators, a large number of supporters gathered on each side and started pelting stones.”
On learning about the incident, the police sub-inspector along with four constables rushed to the spot and stood in between the two groups. They got injured during the stone-pelting. However, none of the accused from either side sustained any injuries.
“The police personnel sustained head injuries and bruises while trying to prevent the groups from clashing”, said Kabade, who also rushed to the spot along with riot control police and quick response team commandos.
In the wee hours of Thursday, the leaders from both sides decided against lodging an offence against each other.
