Internet suspended in Jamshedpur after clash between Hindus, Muslims

According to reports, a religious flag was tied to the pole of a street light near a temple in the area on the occasion of Ram Navami. Some miscreants hung meat pieces on the same rope which was used for the flag.

The following day, members of the Hindu community held a protest on the matter and demanded police take action against the accused within 24 hours.

Sources said that a meeting of the temple committee was being held at around 6 p.m. on Sunday to discuss the incident, when at least 100 people, most of whom had their faces covered, reached the spot and started pelting stones at the committee members.

Following this, there was heavy stone pelting from both sides and half a dozen small shops and two-wheelers were set on fire.

The police had to fire in the air to pacify the aggressors. Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel fired six rounds of tear gas shells at the miscreants to disperse them.

Currently, the situation is tense but under control.

Muslim organisations appeal to CM

Various Muslim organisations in the city have appealed to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren for strict action against the perpetrators, failing which they will come to the streets to protest.

“We are hopeful to CM Soren will bring peace and harmony to the region. We are still recovering from riots that took place in Bihar Sharif during the Ram Navami festival on March 30 and now this. We are disappointed by the police’s lack of timely action and instead encouraging the rioters who vandalised our mosques and torched nearby vehicles,” said one of the representatives of Muslim organisations.

“If the rioters are not punished as per the law, we will not hesitate to protest,” he said.

(With IANS inputs)