One person has been killed after a communal clash broke out in Verakhadi village of Anand district, shortly after 8:30Pm on Thursday. Members of two communities attacked each other after a scuffle over kite-flying on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Thursday, leading to tension across the village. Cops say the scuffle broke out between neighboring families of two communities after their children were involved in a dispute over kites. A 65-year-old man was killed in the violence that ensued. According to police from the Khambolaj police station, a communal clash ensued in Verakhadi village of Anand on Makarsankranti between two families of different communities residing in adjacent homes over the issue of flying kites. Shortly after 8PM on Thursday the Vanzara family and their neighbours, Diwan family, got involved in a heated argument over their children's fight regarding kite flying. The fight turned violent when elders began attacking each other, in the process, injuring 65-year-old Chhotu Mohammad Diwan fatally. As soon as Diwan succumbed to the injuries, the village turned tense with the main accused Narsi Vanzara, pulling out his licensed weapon. Eye witnesses reported that three rounds were fired during the clash between the family and the intervention of the police. Anand District police, however, denied firing any rounds. Anand SP Ashok Kumar said, "We have not fired any rounds. But we are investigating the information of the firing having taken place. Vanzara had a licensed gun and we are trying to arrest him for the murder of Diwan." According to Kumar, the clash - although communal in nature - was restricted to the two families as villagers did not participate in the rioting. Kumar said, "The incident of violence occurred between two families residing side by side. During the tussle between the children, the situation got out of control after the elderly member of the Diwan family was attacked in his private parts and seriously injured. Chhotu Mohammed Diwan soon succumbed to the injuries. We are not truing to arrest Narsi Vanzara. But calm has been restored in the village." Officers of the Khambolaj police station have been deployed in the village to ensure that violence does not erupt again, with the Diwan family having lost a member of its family.
