Freak accident leads to communal riots in Thane

Last night, an altercation between a car driver and autorickshaw driver led to communal riots in the Rabodi area in Thane leaving 16 people injured, which included 11 policemen. Locals went on a rampage burning vehicles, shops and pelting stones and soda bottles at the police.

"We did our best to contain the situation and now everything is under control," a police officer from Raboli police station told MiD DAY at 6 am today.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

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At around 10 pm last night, a car and rickshaw collided outside a housing complex at Kranti Nagar, Thane and the tiff between the drivers led to the riots. In the outburst, the frenzied mob set a bike, a taxi, three rickshaws and a few private vehicles on fire.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

Those injured in the riots were rushed to the Thane Civil Hospital. Dr Prashant Malle, casualty medical officer, Thane Civil Hospital said, "People came in with head and chest injuries. One patient was admitted with a fracture, while the rest were admitted with cuts and bruises. There have been no critical cases."

What happened on September 29, 2008:
Riots broke out between Hindus and Muslim in Rabodi over a dispute regarding a Navratri mandal's archway. Twenty-two-year-old Moshim Khan was killed when police resorted to firing during the riots. Besides, 39 police personnel and two home guard personnel, 21 civilians including three scribes were among those injured.