A violent chaos erupted on the Tuesday night when stones were hurled at a Ganpati immersion procession in Bhiwandi, leading to communal tensions and injuries. The incident occurred as a large Ganpati murti from Ghughat Nagar was being transported to the Nadinaka Kamwari River for immersion. The procession was progressing peacefully until it reached the vicinity of the Hindustani Mosque at Vanjarpatti Naka. At this point, individuals from the crowd started stones at the idol, causing substantial damage.
This act led to a confrontation between the procession participants and local residents, escalating into a violent clash. According to the media reports, the Ganpati immersion procession, the Ganpati immersion procession, which had started without any issues, was disrupted when stones were thrown from the direction of the Hindustani Mosque.
The attack resulted in damage to the Ganpati murti and provoked outrage among the procession participants. The incident turned quickly into a physical altercation between the two groups.
The Ganesh Mandal, the group organizing the procession, demanded immediate arrests of those responsible for the stone-pelting. The situation worsened as the Ganesh Mandal refused to continue with the immersion, demanding justice for the damged inflicted on the murti. The local police intervened to restore order, deploying a lathi charge to disperse the agitated crowd. The police action led to several injuries among both participants and officers.
Meanwhile on Monday, communal tensions prevailed at BC Road in Dakshina Kannada after many Hindu activists from VHP and Bajrang Dal gathered there to protest against the controversial and provocative social media post. According to the media reports, a voice message is doing rounds in which Bantwal TMC’s (Town Municipal Council) former president Mohammed Sharif is heard challenging and daring Sharan Pumpwell and Hindu activists to try to enter the BC Road.
The recent controversy occurred following Sharif’s threatening remarks to the Hindu organisations that had been staging protests against Hindu festivals. However, the media reports have tried to put the blame of communal tensions on VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell while omitting provocative remarks of Bantwal’s Former President Mohammed Sharif. The Karnataka Police have also registered an FIR against Hindu activists Sharan Pumpwell and Bajrang Dal leader Puneet Attavar.
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