SHIMLA: Tension gripped Misharwala area in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday morning when two groups clashed inside a madrasa during Eid festivities. While three persons sustained minor injuries, five vehicles were damaged in the clash.
Police have not made any arrests in the case, however, they have turned the madrasa into a fortress to prevent any further clash.
The clash occurred when around 3,000 people had gathered there to offer prayers and a group objected to the Eid prayers being conducted by a particular priest, said sources.
They said tension had been brewing between the warring factions for the last two years over the issue of taking over of Madrasa Quadria at Misharwala on Nahan-Paonta Sahib road.
On Tuesday morning, a heated argument broke out between the feuding groups and soon led to stone-pelting, which continued for about 40 minutes. Some even alleged that children at the madrasa were instigated to pelt stones.
During the clash, five vehicles — three private and two belonging to the madrasa — were also damaged. It took police about an hour to bring the situation under control and to disperse those involved in the clash.
Sirmaur SP Soumya Sambasivan, who visited the spot, said a quick reaction team along with 50 personnel has been deployed at the madrasa. A permanent police booth has also been set up on the premises till the time the situation improves, she added.
She said that separate FIRs were being registered against the groups involved in the clash.
Last year, a resident of Uttar Pradesh found smuggling cattle was allegedly beaten to death by a mob at Sarahan near Nahan in Himachal Pradesh.
Police said they had received information that a truck carrying smuggled cows was present in Sarahan, about 37 km from Nahan. When the cops reached there, one of the truck’s occupants, Noman of Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh, was found grievously injured. he later succumbed to his injuries on way to the hospital.
-TNN
