Clash during Holi celebrations in Ludhiana’s Transport Nagar, 8 arrested
Police say incident near mosque “not communal,” situation under control after FIR registration
3 min read
Police said the altercation occurred near a mosque, where, on one side, Muslim community members were offering prayers, while on the other, migrants were celebrating Holi with loud music. Both sides pelted stones at each otherTension gripped the Bihari Colony area in Transport Nagar, Ludhiana, on Friday after two groups clashed during Holi celebrations.
Police said the altercation occurred near a mosque, where, on one side, Muslim community members were offering prayers, while on the other, migrants were celebrating Holi with loud music. Both sides pelted stones at each other, officers said.
However, Ludhiana Police maintained that the clash was “not communal” and that the “situation was under control” after an FIR was registered and at least eight people were arrested.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Additional DCP 4 Prabhjot Singh Virk said, “It was not a communal clash. The situation is completely under control. An FIR has been registered, and eight persons have been arrested for hooliganism.”
ADCP Virk further explained, “On one side is the mosque, where Muslim community members were coming out after offering prayers while observing roza. On the other side of the road, migrants settled in the area were celebrating Holi. They had installed speakers for loud music, and some were intoxicated. Miscreants from both sides created a nuisance, leading to heated arguments that escalated into stone pelting.”
“Our first priority was to maintain law and order. The situation is completely under control after the case was registered. At least fifteen suspects have been booked, and eight have been arrested,” he added.
The FIR has been registered at Moti Nagar police station.
The FIR has been registered under the sections 194 (2) (when two or more persons fight in public place to disturb peace and commit an affray), 191 (3) (rioting), 190 (unlawful assembly) and 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police booked 35 suspects including Vinod, Ajit, Gagan, Ashok, Krishna, Kishan, Sandeep, Pappu, Manoj, Vidyarthi, Jatinder, Dharminder, Munna, Birju, Kanhaiya, Babu, Madan Lal, Amarjit, Lakshman and Sarwan, while 15 others are yet to be identified.
The FIR registered on the statement of ASI Sahib Kumar states that the suspects disturbed peace by indulging in violence with sharp-edged weapons near the mosque. “They also hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community and have also violated their (Muslim community’s) dignity,” states the FIR.
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