Jodhpur Violence: Police denies communal angle

According to an official on Tuesday night, police have been deployed in the Soorsagar district of Rajasthan’s Jodhpur after a conflict between two groups.

However, the notion of a communal angle to the incident has been denied by Vandita Rana, DCP Jodhpur West, because the clash happened between youths from a certain community.

As per DCP Rana, “In the evening, there was a fight between some boys. Two boys who attempted to interfere were also beaten. The entire encounter was caught on camera. Following the filing of an FIR on which action will be taken.”

When asked if the brawl was communal, the police official downplayed the concept, instead describing it as a brawl between boys.

“It couldn’t be called a confrontation between the two communities because the boys from one community were fighting amongst themselves and a boy from the other sought to intervene, which would not be considered a clash between two communities. It was a battle of the sexes “she stated.

Security precautions have been implemented in the region because of the sensitivity. An investigation into the matter is currently underway.

As soon as the cops arrived, the situation was brought under control. The police presence in the neighbourhood is still present. Local BJP and Congress leaders were also said to have arrived at the location.

In a similar event earlier this year, 211 individuals were arrested in connection with communal confrontations in Jodhpur ahead of Eid celebrations, which left several people injured and resulted in 19 complaints being filed, according to police.

Hours before Eid, tensions erupted in Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s hometown of Jodhpur, causing officials to stop mobile internet connections and impose a curfew in 10 police station districts. There was a ruckus over the placement of religious flags atop the Jalori gate circle in Jodhpur, which resulted in stone-pelting and the injury of five police officers.

Violence erupted in Karauli following a stone-pelting incident during a religious procession in April this year, while a 300-year-old temple in Alwar’s Rajgarh was razed with a bulldozer.