Tension in 3 more villages

Talking to Express Newsline, Range Inspector-General O P Mathur and District Superintendent Ramdas Vasava said the situation was tense but under control. Arrests had been made in connection with the incidents, Mathur said, adding that though there had been some arson, they were minor incidents.

The DSP was investigating the complaint of the stoning of the mosque, Mathur said.

Earlier, on Sunday, a call for a Vansda bandh met with near-total success, thanks in part to the fact that it was a holiday and most shop-keepers had shut shop in view of the previous disturbances.

A meeting called on Sunday afternoon to protest against the alleged role of the minority community, meanwhile, was reportedly attended by 2000 people, and addressed by BJP MP Manilal Chaudhary and former local Vishwa Hindu Parishad unit chief Rasikbhai Surti. Certain quarters claimed there had been an attempt on Surti’s life the day before.

The police had fired 10 rounds in the air and lobbed teargas shells when members of the two communities clashed on Sunday morning after making contradictory statements before the police.

A group of Muslims barged into the Vansda police station, alleging that Ganpati revellers had stoned a masjid and should be brought to book. Members of the majority community, meanwhile, got a hint of what was happening and went to the police station to say nothing of the sort had happened and that the charge was an attempt to whip up passions.

Ultimately, no police complaint was lodged, but trouble erupted when the two groups clashed on their way back from the police station. Roadside cabins and property belonging to either community were damaged in the skirmish that followed.