Procession for Ram Mandir ‘pelted with stones’ in Madhya Pradesh, police clamp down in city

This argument then grew into a physical confrontation, when some of the participants were allegedly “manhandled and stones were pelted at them”, the officer added.

“Eight persons have been arrested in this incident and search is on to apprehend the other accused,” said Shajapur Superintendent of Police Yashpal Rajput.

“The city is peaceful. We have also set up multiple patrolling parties to maintain peace in the city. Restrictions have been imposed under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in three areas of Shajapur city – Magaria, Kachhiwada and Lalpura,” the SP said.

Lalit, one of the injured, said, “I was part of the rally of 30 people and were raising ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans. Then suddenly, they started pelting stones and raising their own slogans. They caught hold of me, and they overpowered us.”

After the incident, a large number of workers of Hindu organisations reached the police station on Monday night. The protesters demanded that the accused be arrested immediately and that their houses be bulldozed.

Local MLA Arun Bhimawad also turned up at the police station and addressed the protesters, assuring strict action against the accused.

Police registered an FIR against 24 identified people and 15-20 unidentified people.

Dewas MP Mahendra Solanki reached Shajapur on Tuesday and had a series of discussions with the senior police officers, following which he said the administration would “take any action necessary, including bulldozing homes of the accused, to maintain peace”.

“This was a planned conspiracy. Strict action will be taken against those who pelted stones on the yatra. Eight accused have been arrested, the search for the rest is on. If necessary, they will also break the houses of the accused,” Solanki said.

The Congress has called for a fair investigation into the incident, with its spokesperson alleging that the BJP may have been behind the incident.

“There should be a fair investigation into the incident. Whoever is the accused should be unmasked. But before the elections, why was there a riot? Who did this? There should be an investigation. We have our doubts that the Sangh Parivaar and the BJP are involved in this incident. There is an attempt to spread terror and reap political dividends,” Congress spokesperson K K Mishra said.