Tensions are high in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur after Muslim youths tore and burnt images of Hindu deities on the night of Holika Dahan in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Police has made 7 arrests, including Shahid Khan, Sameer and 5 others who are reportedly minors, after CCTV footage surfaced, which was followed by a massive protest by Hindus on Friday.
This incident took place on the night of Holika Dahan at Ram Nagar area of Gudhiyari, Raipur, Chhatisgargh. Muslim youths allegedly tore and threw the posters of Hindu deities in the burning Holika Dahan. A CCTV footage surfaced on social media, which created an uproar in the state. Several pro-Hindu organizations staged protests against this heinous act and demanded arrest of the culprits.
Faced with public protests, Chhattisgarh Police resorted to heavy-handed tactics and carried out a lathi-charge to end the protests, claiming that protestors had ‘thrown a stone’ at the police.
Additional Superintendent of Police (West) D C Patel stated, “On the eve of Holi, unidentified (sic) miscreants allegedly tore the poster of Lord Shiva (Hindu deity) and later, set it into ‘Holika’. In this connection, police have registered a case against them and launched a manhunt to nab them.”
“Demanding the immediate arrest of miscreants, people in large numbers gathered following which an adequate police force led by senior officials was deployed at the locality to prevent any untoward incident”, ASP Patel said. “Currently, the situation is under control and the placement of police force will be continued in the area as a preventive measure”, he added.
Though the police initially called them ‘unidentified’ miscreants, but several reports and local witnesses confirmed that the miscreants belonged to the Muslim community.
Police have arrested 7 Muslim youths in this case, two of whom are are 19-year-old Shahid Khan and 18-year-old Sameer and rest 5 are minors, and all of them are residents of Ram Nagar area. An FIR under IPC section 295A and 34 has been registered against the arrested accused.
