1 killed, 80 arrested; Amit Shah dials Bihar Governor as tension prevails after Ram Navami clashes

Tension continued to prevail in Bihar on Sunday, a day after fresh violence was reported in Rohtas and Nalanda districts following Ram Navami.

The violence that broke out on Thursday continued till Saturday night, prompting the police to make multiple arrests and keeping the prohibitory orders in place in Biharsharif to maintain the law and order situation. Vehicles, houses and shops were torched and several people injured in the communal flare-ups reported in both towns.

6 INJURED IN BOMB BLAST IN SASARAM
At least six people were injured after a bomb blast in Sasaram’s Rohtas in Bihar during the handling of illegal explosives on Saturday. The blast was reported on Saturday evening in Sherganj locality. Bihar Police arrested two people in connection with the blast.

According to the Bihar Police, information was received about the incident of a bomb blast in Sasaram of Rohtas after which the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team reached the spot to investigate the matter.

“The blast was reported at a shanty and a scooty has been recovered from the area. Prima facie it does not appear to be a communal incident,” the police said.

Tension prevailed in Sasaram even a day after communal clashes, while Biharsharif administration on Saturday claimed the situation was under control and no fresh clashes were reported.

“There was a bomb blast in Sasaram. Injured people were referred to BHU hospital. We’re investigating all the angles right now. The cause of the blast is unknown,” Dharmendra Kumar, Sasaram DM told ANI.

According to police, 32 people have been arrested so far, security personnel has been deployed and a flag march has been conducted in sensitive areas.

“The situation is peaceful in Sasaram. Yesterday, we got info that a few people from one community threw explosives at a religious site belonging to another community. 6 people were injured, but they didn’t suffer any serious injuries. Looking at the incident site, it is clear that the explosion occurred due to the mishandling of explosives. 1100-1200 security personnel were deployed in the city. The public should not believe rumours,” he added.

In Nalanda’s Biharsharif, one person was killed and several others injured after clashes broke out between two groups Saturday evening. The victim, identified as Mukesh Kumar, died in a firing incident at Paharpur area, police said.

80 ARRESTED IN NALANDA
Meanwhile, 80 people have been arrested in Nalanda following communal tension sparked off during Ram Navami festivities and paramilitary forces have been deployed. Fresh clashes broke out in Biharsharif, Nalanda district last night.

“The situation is normal. Section 144 has been imposed in the area. Security personnel are deployed across the city,” SI Surendra Paswan told ANI.

“Fresh incidents occurred at 2-3 places in Biharsharif last night. The situation is peaceful right now. Section 144 has been imposed, not curfew. Many miscreants identified, more than 80 arrested so far,” DM Nalanda Shashank Shubhankar was quoted by ANI as saying.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the violence which has kept Bihar boiling, Union Home Minister Amit Shah dialled Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to take stock of the situation. The Union Home Ministry has decided to send additional paramilitary forces to Bihar to assist the state administration in handling the situation arising out of the violence.

PARAMILITARY TROOPS TO BE DEPLOYED
Union Home Minister Amit Shah dialled Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Sunday. The central government will deploy paramilitary forces in sensitive areas of the violence-hit state and a few companies of paramilitary troops will arrive today. Amit Shah who reached Bihar on Saturday is scheduled to address a rally in Hisua area in Bihar’s Nawada district on Sunday.

The home minister spoke to the Bihar governor and took stock of the situation. The home minister expressed his concern over the violence in the state. The governor is believed to have apprised Shah about the prevailing situation in the state.

Amit Shah’s tour of Sasaram in Rohtas district has been cancelled because of communal tension that erupted during Ram Navami festivities. Amit Shah reached Bihar on Saturday amid trading of charges between the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) over communal disturbances which caused him to cancel one of the programmes scheduled on April 2.

BIHAR SIMMERS AFTER RAM NAVAMI CLASHES
Fresh violence erupted in Sasaram and Bihar Sharif on Saturday evening. Tension continues to prevail in Sasaram and Biharsharif after widespread violence was witnessed on Friday during the Ram Navami Shobha yatra.

Fresh violence was reported in several localities in Bihar Sharif, including Paharpur, Kashi Takiya, Sukh Sarai, Banauliya and Khasganj, when incidents of firing took place between two communities.

12 rounds of firing took place reportedly in Paharpur and 6 rounds took place in Kashi Takiya, injuring 3 people who were rushed to hospital for treatment. Several police personnel were also injured as stone pelting also took place.

After Friday’s violence, the local administration had imposed section 144 in Biharsharif. The situation remained peaceful on Saturday throughout the day, but later in the evening, incidents of firing between two groups were reported from various places in Biharsharif.

POLITICAL SLUGFEST CONTINUES
After the Home Minister spoke to the Bihar Governor and expressed concern over the present situation, RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari took a jibe at Amit Shah saying that he is not worried about 40 Lok Sabha seats and not Bihar.

“If you are satisfied with the ED and CBI, then why are you talking about sending security forces to Bihar? Amit Shah is not worried about Bihar. He is worried about 40 Lok Sabha seats. The law and order situation in Bihar is governed by CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav. The Union Home Minister should worry about violence in the BJP-ruled states,” the RJD spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said communal incidents in Biharsharif and Sasaram were triggered by some people indulging in “gadbad (mischief)” and the police have been asked to identify the “troublemakers”.

“Communal tensions during Ram Navami festivities at Sasaram and Bihar Sharif are disturbing. Such incidents happened for the first time in the area. It’s not naturalâ€æ.We know that some people are indulging in “gadbad” (mischief) and are trying to disrupt communal harmony in the state. We will not allow this to happen,” the chief minister said.

State BJP chief Samrat Choudhary blamed the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar for the cancellation of the function at Sasaram, organised to celebrate the birth anniversary of Emperor Asoka.

Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh launched an all-out attack on the Nitish government and said, “There is a competition going on between chief ministers of Bihar and West Bengal. The Mamata Banerjee government is doing minority appeasement and Bihar is following the same path. The incidents that happened in Bihar and Sasaram show that the state government has failed on all fronts. They do not have any information. Sasaram has been rocked by bomb blast.”