Author: Staff Reporter
Publication: Central Chronicle
Date: January 17, 2004
URL: http://www.centralchronicle.com/20040117/1701006.htm
At least three persons were killed
and over a dozen injured, most of them seriously, in group clashes in Jhabua
district today, triggering tension and heavy deployment of security forces
in sensitive areas.
Violent clashes and mob attacks
were reported from Amkhur Alirajpur, Meghnagar and some other places, leading
to worsening of the already tense situation since the rape and murder of
a minor tribal girl inside a 'mission school' here.
Three persons including Arjun Pal
and two tribals were killed at Amkhur village, about 80 km from here, when
a procession taken out after spiritual discourses was attacked by another
group, police sources said.
More than 12 persons, including
women, were injured in stone throwing and armed attacks during the procession
while a motorcycle was set afire and three jeeps damaged, sources said,
adding that the injured were taken to hospitals in Katchiwada and Alirajpur
for treatment.
Unidentified miscreants also reportedly
opened fire as the procession was proceeding.
Police personnel in strength were
deployed in the area to prevent any further flare-up.
Alirajpur town also witnessed violent
incidents with a mob attacking a church and ransacking it, besides setting
afire a jeep, sources said.
Tension also surfaced at Meghnagar
where a mob damaged a statue of Gandhiji, they said.
The police said that the girl, daughter
of a fruit vendor, and her brother Suraj were running the stall on Sunday
when their father had moved out for a short while.
An unidentified person then arrived
at the stall and asked the girl to deliver fruits to some nuns at the nearby
Catholic Mission School and Church.
After the girl followed the man
into the school, she went missing, the police said, adding, her body was
later found in a school toilet.
The police have not been able to
nab the culprit so far. Five persons have been detained on the basis of
Suraj's description of the person who had come to the stall. The police
have announced a reward of Rs 5,000 to anyone who offered information about
the rapist.
On Wednesday, thousands of VHP and
Hindu Jagran Manch activists pelted stones at the Church, home to several
Catholic priests and nuns.
Uma appeals for calm
Terming the clashes between Hindus
and Christians 'unfortunate' Chief Minister Uma Bharati instructed police
officials to take strict action against the guilty and ensure prevention
of such incidents in the future.
Uma said Ministers Kailash Vijayvargiya
and Kailash Chawla would reach Jhabua on Saturday. In reply to a question
regarding the large number of conversions taking place in Jhabua Uma said
that there existed provisions to stop conversions in the State but these
were not implemented effectively.
The large number of conversions
has also resulted in greater intolerance she said. The Chief Minister however
discounted the possibility of the clashes being linked in any manner to
the rape of a nine-year-old girl in Jhabua last Sunday.
Uma also endorsed the steps taken
by the police to bring the situation under control. The Chief Minister
appealed to the people of Jhabua to maintain calm and urged parties to
refrain from politicising the issue.
Meanwhile the Director-General of
Police SK Das said that trouble erupted when a rally taken out by followers
of Sant Aasaram reached a school which also had a church on its premises.
Around a 100 people gathered at the spot and raised objectionable slogans
which led to a heated argument between the two groups followed by pelting
of stones in which four people were injured.
The DGP denied that the attack was
pre-planned or part of any conspiracy and expressed satisfaction at the
way the situation had been handled by policemen at the scene. Das described
the situation as being 'under control'.
