One killed, over 35 injured in communal clashes in Aurangabad

At least one person has been killed and more than 35 injured, including 10 policemen, when clashes broke out between two groups in this famed tourist town, an official said.

According to media reports, the clamping down on an illegal water connection at a place of worship in Moti Karanja area of the city during a drive by the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation on Thursday prompted members of that community to demand similar action against illegal water connections in other place of worship.

It is being reported that the group at Moti Karanja suspected that the action by the municipality was taken at behest of other religious groups in the Gandhinagar locality. The clashes erupted when the affected religious group demanded that religious structures in Gandhinagar be dealt with in a similar manner.

Nearly 100 shops were burnt down during the clashes, followed by the imposition of Section 144 and suspension of internet services, according to media reports.

Police forces were rushed to the locality but they failed to control the violence and resorted to caning and firing teargas shells and plastic bullets to quell the rampaging crowds. Prohibitor orders were subsequently imposed in the affected areas. Curfew has also been imposed in certain parts of the city.

Aurangabad Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe said there were two rounds of violence, one Friday evening followed by another on Saturday, but "now the situation is under control."

"It was a small issue... It escalated due to rumours and the tensions spread... Some anti-social elements indulged in setting ablaze shops and vehicles in the locality," Bharambe told the media.

The worst-hit areas were Shahganj, Nawabpura, Rajabazaar and Angribaug which continued to remain calm but tense.

The state government deployed units of the State Reserve Police Force, Indian Reserve Battalion from the city, besides rushing forces from neighbouring Beed and Jalna to maintain peace.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been apprised of the matter while Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar is rushing to Aurangabad to take stock of the situation, an official said in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Asaduddin Owaisi appealed to Fadnavis to take strong action against the miscreants indulging in the rioting.

The AIMIM is the second biggest party in the municipality, which is ruled by Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While Hindus made up over 50 per cent of Aurangabad’s population, roughly one in three persons professed Islam, as per the Census in 2011.

Aurangabad Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe said there were two rounds of violence, one Friday evening followed by another on Saturday, but "now the situation is under control."

"It was a small issue... It escalated due to rumours and the tensions spread... Some anti-social elements indulged in setting ablaze shops and vehicles in the locality," Bharambe told the media.

The worst-hit areas were Shahganj, Nawabpura, Rajabazaar and Angribaug which continued to remain calm but tense.The state government deployed units of the State Reserve Police Force, Indian Reserve Battalion from the city, besides rushing forces from neighbouring Beed and Jalna to maintain peace.

Located in the Marathwada region of the state, Aurangabad is world-renowned for the famous Ajanta-Ellora Caves, Bibi Ka Maqbara and other historical landmarks.

(with inputs from IANS)