Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: January 17, 2004
At least one person was killed and
over a dozen injured, most of them seriously, in an outbreak of communal
violence in tribal-dominated Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday
as a sequel to the rape and murder of a nine-year-old Christian girl.
A procession of members belonging
to one community, which was returning from a religious discourse, came
under fire at Amkhur village, about 70 km from Jhabua town, killing 25-year-old
Arjun Pal, DGP SK Das told reporters.
Asked about unofficial reports of
death of three persons in the violence, Das said there was confirmation
available so far of only one killing.
In retaliation to the attack on
the procession at Amkhur, a church was attacked, a priest beaten up and
a missionary school ransacked and houses of some Christians were set on
fire at Alirajpur, 20 km away, Das said.
He said the precisionists shouted
slogans some of which were "provocative" which could have led to the attack.
A motorcycle was set afire and three
jeeps were damaged in the violence in Alirajpur, police sources said.
Members of two communities clashed
and mob attacks were reported from Meghanagar and some other places in
the district setting off communal tension.
Over 600 policemen have been deployed
in the troubled-areas, Das said.
The DGP said no arrests have been
made so far in connection with the violence.
In a late night press conference
in Bhopal, Chief Minister Uma Bharati said stern action would be taken
against those responsible for the incident.
She appealed to all the political
parties not to politicise the incident and asked people to help maintain
peace and restore communal harmony.
Asked if the incidents were linked
to conversion in the area, Bharti said "there is a general complaint about
the role of missionaries, particularly in Jhabua."
Investigations are on and it would
be clear in two-three days if the incidents were linked with conversion,
she said.
Bharati said two of her ministerial
colleagues Kailash Vijayvargeya (PWD) and Kailash Chawala (Industry) would
visit the trouble-torn area on Saturday.
"I am confident that the situation
will be brought under control and not allowed to worsen, " she said.