Ahmednagar clashes: ‘We no longer feel safe in our own houses… in our own neighbourhoods’

Clashes were reported near a mosque between groups belonging to two communities during a procession taken out in Shevgaon on Sunday night to mark the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The Ahmednagar district police, who had earlier said four police and one Home Guard personnel were injured, revised the figures on Tuesday to seven, saying three policemen and four Home Guard personnel were injured. The police had earlier said that only one civilian was injured but on Tuesday, two officials The Indian Express spoke to said the number could be at least 12, adding that they were still collecting data on the injured persons from various hospitals.

In addition to the two FIRs registered on Monday morning — one on stone-pelting on police, Home Guard and civilians and another on an attack on a man identified as Navnath Patkal by a sharp weapon — the police filed a third FIR in the early hours of Tuesday in connection with arson and vandalism, in which an eatery and an automobile repair garage were set afire and several vehicles and shops were damaged. “My staff was about to close the shop when I got a call that stones were being pelted on the glass facade. I chose to stay where I was and decided not to go to the shop, fearing the worst,” said a cloth trader.

The police said that when the procession reached the Shivaji Chowk area of the town sometime after 8.30 pm, sloganeering in front of a mosque led to arguments between two groups which escalated to stone-pelting from both sides followed by arson and vandalism. Some suspects also wielded sharp weapons, the probe has revealed. Several of the injured were attacked with sharp weapons, officials said.

“In the three FIRs registered till now we have booked 250 to 300 people, out of whom we have identified 112 people based on the security camera footage from various places. The process to identify and arrest more suspects is currently on. Those identified in the case of stone-pelting belong to both communities. We have arrested 30 people and issued notices to two minors. We have reasons to believe that several of those who have been identified or are yet to be identified are minors,” said an officer from Ahmednagar police.

Officials suspect that some of the injured had not approached the police, possibly fearing questioning or legal action if their involvement in clashes is revealed. None of the residents that The Indian Express spoke to, from both communities in the locality, wished to be identified.

On Tuesday, the shopowners and traders’ organisation from Shevgaon and also nearby Pathardi village called for a complete bandh, demanding arrest of all those involved in violence. “At least 20 shops have been vandalised and an equal number of vehicles have been damaged. The police cases do not record all these incidents since only a few of them have come forward. The violence not just creates divide, but also hurts businesses. The losses are even significant when it comes to small businesses like ours in small towns. The bandh was called to demand the arrest of all the perpetrators and also to show solidarity with those affected,” said a trader whose shop was vandalised.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandeep Mitke said, “We have held discussions with groups and traders and shopowners. We have told them that an investigation is ongoing and arrests are being made.”

“I was home when we heard that clashes have erupted. Several stones were hurled towards our house and one stone shattered the glass of our kitchen window. My wife was inside finishing her day’s work. Most of the stone-pelters had their faces covered. But we could see that many of them were those whom we know by faces or names. We have lived peacefully for years. Shevgaon has no history of communal violence. And now with these clashes, we do not feel safe in our own houses and our own neighbourhoods. If this is not polarisation, then what is,” a healthcare professional and resident of Shivaji Chowk area said.

A teacher from a local school, who is a resident of the area where clashes were reported, said, “Shevgaon, which is the taluka headquarters, has a population of around 60,000. It has been known as a key cotton trading centre and sugarcane cultivation area, because of water availability from the Jayakwadi Dam’s backwaters. It has remained a peaceful town. Processions taken out by various communities have remained peaceful in the past. But the sloganeering, arrogance and taunting at other communities, that is seen recently, was never seen before and is worrying.”

“Our primary goal was to help the police in controlling the mobs which had resorted to violence. Stones and bricks were being hurled from both sides and one hit me. I could not see where it came from,” one of the injured Home Guard personnel said.

Another resident of Shivaji Chowk area said, “It is time we ask who instigated these rioters, most of whom are youths. These people also belong to common families fighting for their livelihoods. Doesn’t the violence and arrest affect their families? Also those who get injured or suffer property damage are those who have nothing to do with the violence.”

Ahmednagar Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ola said, “We are investigating three FIRs registered in the case and are in the process of making further arrests.” When asked whether the police personnel were wearing protective gear, Ola said, “We have protective gears but sometimes, personnel have to respond to situations in a spur of the moment and may not carry full gear with them.”