Over 125 arrested for Bihar's Aurangabad violence, situation back to normal: Police

PATNA: In the wake of the violence in Bihar's Aurangabad that broke out on the occasion of Ram Navami, police on Wednesday said that more than 125 people have been arrested so far in connection with the communal clashes. The situation has returned to normalcy, police added.

Requesting people to not to pay heed to rumours, Aurangabad DG (BMP) Gupteshwar Pandey said, "I will request people not to pay attention to rumours. Goons will not be spared by the administration. More than 125 people have been arrested. More arrests will be done. Situation has returned to normalcy."

Pandey assured that the goons will not be spared and more arrests will be done.

On Monday, Section 144 was imposed in Aurangabad after clashes broke out between two communities on the occasion of Ram Navami. As per reports, clashes occurred when stones were thrown at a group taking out a march to celebrate Ram Navami in Nawadih area on Sunday.

Many are said to have been injured in the incident. In the ensuing violence, shops were burnt and properties damaged at Ramesh Chowk by agitating mob. Internet services have been suspended in the city as a result of the violence. 

Aurangabad DM Rahul Ranjan Mahiwal had said that the procession was authorised and was passing through pre-determined route, as per media reports. Patna zonal IG Nayyar Hasnain Khan too had said that district armed police personnel were deployed in the area and the situation was under control.

Reports of violence were also reported from other parts of Bihar like Gaya and Siwan. In Gaya, stones were reportedly pelted on a Ram Navami procession under Kothi police station area on Sunday, which led to clashes between two communities.

In Siwan too, 'communal' clashes are said to have taken place when a group of people stopped a Ram Navami procession at Nizampur village on Saturday night.

The state home department and state police's special branch had earlier urged people not to share objectionable posts on social media on the occasion of Ram Navami. They had also taken out advertisements in newspapers asking people not to raise slogans which would hurt religious sentiments.