Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 8, 2004
URL: http://cities.expressindia.com/archivefullstory.php?newsid=83941&creation_date=2004-05-08
A traditional procession at Cheetah
Camp, Trombay ended in a communal skirmish on Thursday night.
The incident occurred when some
members of the minority community protested against the percussion instruments
used during a procession held when it was passing in front of a place of
worship, according to the police.
It all started in Sector E in this
predominantly Muslim locality on the last day of the yatra on Thursday
night at around 11.30 pm.
A 2000-strong procession-playing
drums and the traditional nadaswaram- was making its way towards the temple
when a mob belonging to the minority community allegedly pelted stones
as it passed outside a place of worship.
In a crowd comprising many women
and children, at least 18 people, including five police personnel were
injured.
The Trombay police held meetings
with leaders of both communities late into Thursday night trying to restore
peace. But trouble broke out between the two communities again on Friday
afternoon.
"They wanted to stop the music,"
a rattled S Ranganath (82), priest of the Balaji temple told Newsline.
Dev Mani (40), an auto-driver, was
also attacked.
"I was alone, my friends were not
there. So, I got caught by them," he said, shirt soaked in blood and head
bandaged.
The police, the State Reserve Police
Force and the Riot Control Police soon swarmed the streets trying to restore
order.
However, Abdul Hasnain Khan (35),
a civic contractor who lives in Sector E, said that "the mischief was done
by outsiders and anti- socials" and not local Muslims.
Meanwhile, apart from the strong
police presence, elders from both the communities were getting down to
heal the ruptured peace.
Mohiuddin Jabali, secretary of the
minority cell of the NCP and a local, sat down with local leaders inside
the Balaji Temple and talked of "burying misunderstandings, banishing rumours
and crowding and maintaining peace."
"The situation is largely under
control, we are planning to talk to both the communities again,'' said
E K Sanab, ASI, Trombay Police.
Commissioner of Police AN Roy confirmed
that there had been clashes between the two communities on Thursday night
as well as on Friday afternoon.
