Communal clash claims two in Bihar

A curfew was imposed in Nawada after one person was killed and five were injured in a communal clash in Nawada town on Monday. During the clash, two groups – one of Hindus and one of Muslims – pelted stones and opened fire on each other in the Bundelkhand police station area of the town at around 11 am.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked the district administration to take stern action against those involved and appealed to the public to maintain peace and communal harmony.

A man, Mohammed Iqbal, succumbed to his injuries from a bullet. Five others, from both sides, were injured. Police later used teargas and also opened fire in the air to disperse the crowd. The district administration subsequently imposed a curfew in the town.

Police said the fighting began after three Muslim people were involved in a fight with a restaurant owner two days ago.

The argument snowballed, and the two groups clashed on Saturday, as a result of which a Hindu youth suffered bullet injuries and later died on way to a Patna hospital.

Nawada district magistrate Aadesh Titarmare said, “The situation will be brought under control soon”. He added that over a dozen shops along Hospital Road and Vijay Bazar were torched during the clash. A senior police officer said the police suspected anti-social elements were involved in stirring up communal sentiments.

Case filed against ministers

A Patna High Court lawyer on Monday lodged a case in the Patna chief judicial magistrate court against two Bihar ministers, Bhim Singh and Narendra Singh, for hurting public sentiments by making uncharitable remarks “defending Pakistan and belittling the martyrdom of Indian soldiers”.