Jharkhand Idol Immersion Violence: 19 Hurt, 10 Detained After Stone Pelting in Ramgarh

Jharkhand: The atmosphere deteriorated during the idol immersion of Saraswati Puja in Lari village of Ramgarh district of Jharkhand on Monday night. Within no time there was chaos in the procession and stone pelting started. Four policemen and about 15 villagers were injured in this incident.

What actually happened there?

Like every day, a procession for idol immersion was taking place in the village. Drums were playing and people were moving forward dancing and singing. The road was a bit narrow and there was a lot of crowd. Meanwhile, there was a scuffle over some issue.

When the police asked people to step back and walk in line, a section of the crowd started picking up stones in anger. The situation worsened within a few minutes. People started running here and there out of fear.

How many people were injured?

Four policemen were injured in this clash. Apart from them, about 15 local people have also been injured. Everyone was taken to a nearby hospital. The policemen were sent home after first aid, while some villagers are still undergoing treatment.

What are the police saying?

Ramgarh SDPO Parmeshwar Prasad says that the police was just trying to control the crowd. He clearly said that this is not a matter related to religion or community, but all this happened due to the crowd going out of control during the procession.

What action has been taken so far?

A case has been registered at Rajrappa police station. So far 10 people have been arrested. Police have named 42 people in the FIR and around 150 unknown people have also been made accused. CCTV cameras and mobile videos installed nearby are being scrutinized so that the remaining people can be identified.

How is the situation in the village now?

After the incident, police deployment has been increased in the village and surrounding areas. Patrolling has been going on since night. The administration says that at present the situation is calm, but vigilance is being taken to avoid any new disturbance.

Have such incidents happened before?

A day earlier, in Lohardaga district too, there was stone pelting between two groups during immersion, in which seven people were injured. Apart from this, there was a dispute regarding singing during the procession in Keredari area of ​​Hazaribagh district, which later turned into violence.

What appeal has the administration made?

The administration has asked people not to pay attention to rumors and maintain peace. Police say that festivals are for happiness, not for fights and fear.