Guwahati: The Sonitpur district administration imposed a curfew within the area limits of Thelamara and Dhekiajuli police stations after two groups engaged in a violent clash on Wednesday. The clash broke out after a bike rally was organised by a Hindu group to celebrate the groundbreaking rituals of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Reportedly, several people are injured in the clash. Sources have told that the situation is now under control and additional forces have been deployed in and around the place of the clash.
“There exist a grave law and order situation due to present scenario at village Goruduba and Bharahingori under Paschim Borgaon GP under Thelamara PS area,” said the curfew order, which is imposed until further order.
Curfew imposed in Sonitpur district in areas falling under Thelamara and Dhekiajuli PS.
Movement of individuals without special permission from the District Magistrate shall not be permitted w.e.f. 10:00 PM of August 5, 2020 pic.twitter.com/pMvvWbfaAt
— District Commissioner, Sonitpur, Assam, India (@DCSonitpur) August 5, 2020
PTI has reported that Sonitpur district’s deputy commissioner Manavendra Pratap Singh, who immediately arrived at the spot, was pelted with stones. Due to this, the front windshield of his official car got shattered. As per reports, Singh and the officials accompanied to inspect the clash site are safe.
The incident took an ugly turn when a group of bikers, heading towards a Shiv temple at Bhora Singori within the limits of Thelemara police station, playing loud music and shouting slogans were confronted by the villagers.
One Guwahati-based media house reported that the villagers objected the loud music being played in the area. The villagers reportedly confronted the group and questioned them for violating the Covid-19 norms. “This led to arguments, which eventually turned ugly and a clash started,” said an official.
A Tezpur-based journalist told Headline8 that the locals torched the bikes and four-wheeler. It is reported that the two groups first exchanged verbal and physical scuffle however, things turned ugly in a blink of a second.
The police had to resort to blank fire to disperse the angry mob. “The entire area is heavily guarded. Additional forces have been sought,” said a source.
Ahead of the groundbreaking ritual in Ayodhya, the intelligence sources and law enforcement agencies had alerted all districts of probable law and order situations.
