Politics over communal tension in Amravati and other towns in the state has intensified with the Opposition and ruling parties blaming each other for fanning Friday’s communal violence over alleged atrocities against the minorities in Tripura, and a counter agitation that followed on Saturday. The MVA leaders blamed the riots on the BJP, while the Opposition party said the ministers were instigating the people to protest against an incident that never happened in Tripura.  

In Amravati, where stone pelting and violence took place during the Muslim community’s protest on Friday, a call for the bandh was given by the saffron organisations on Saturday. The shutdown turned violent, prompting the police to use force. A curfew has been imposed in the city. The incident was spurred by Raza Academy’s call to protest against the Tripura riots. The protests were held in Nanded, Bhiwandi, Malegaon, Nanded, Pusad and some other towns as well. Nanded and Malegaon witnessed some violence on Friday, but were relatively peaceful on Saturday.