Akola clash: More than 100 detained; internet shut; curfew relaxed in few areas

More than 100 people have been detained so far in connection with a clash between two groups in Maharashtras Akola city that left a man dead and injured eight others including two policemen an official said on MondayWhile state minister Girish Mahajan claimed that the violence was possibly ldquopreplannedrdquo Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said there are some organisations and people who want the state to be unstable but the government will teach them a lessonInternet services have been shut in the city to prevent the spread of rumours on social media while curfew has been relaxed in a few areas and peace restored said Akola Superintendent of Police Sandip GhugeThe clash broke out on Saturday night in the Old City area of Akola over a religious post which went viral on a social media platform he saidMembers of two groups pelted stones at one another and indulged in largescale vandalism The unruly mobs also set on fire some twowheelers and fourwheelers during the violence the SP saidOne person was killed and eight others including two policemen were injured in the violence More than 100 people have been detained so far in connection with the clash he saidAfter the incident District Magistrate Nima Arora ordered a curfew which requires people to stay at home in four police station areas of the city to maintain law and order the SP saidAlso readMaharashtra Violent clash between 2 groups in Akola Section 144 imposedOn Monday the official said the curfew was relaxed in areas under the jurisdiction of City Kotwali and Ramdas Peth police station limits However it will remain in force within the limits of Dabki Road and Old City police stations at night between 8 pm and 8 am while some relaxations will be provided during day time he saidEarlier in the day State Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan claimed the clash was possibly preplanned Mahajan visited the affected areas on SundayTalking to reporters he said It is suspected that the incident was preplanned Some houses and vehicles were damaged Strict action would be taken against the culprits He also met the family of the man Vilas Gaikwad 40 killed in the violence and expressed condolenceMahajan said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced an assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the family of the person killed in the violenceIn Pune Fadnavis said there are some organisations and people who want the state to be unstable but the government will teach them a lessonldquoIt is 100 per cent true there are some people and organisations that want the state to remain unstable But the government will expose them and also teach them a lessonrdquo said the deputy CMIn Aurangabad Shiv Sena UBT leader and former MP Chandrakant Khaire claimed that riots were being instigated in Maharashtra to stop Muslim votes from shifting towards the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVAEver since the Eknath ShindeDevendra Fadnavis coalition has come to power communal tensions are taking place Khaire claimedMeanwhile at least five persons were injured in a communal clash over a procession in Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district where several shops and vehicles were damaged in stone pelting police said on Monday Police have detained 32 people so far and registered cases against 150 others after the incident on Sunday night an official saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever