Chhapra/Patna: Communal violence broke out in parts of Saran district of Bihar on Friday after a video showing desecration of deities of a community went viral on social media. The situation remained tense on Saturday, forcing the administration to take out a flag march in the district.
Till Friday night, violence was limited only to the Maker block. But on Saturday morning, it spread to Chhapra. Rioters damaged+ several police vehicles and district magistrate Deepak Anand was injured in brick-batting. More than 2,000 armed security personnel were deployed on the streets of Chhapra by Saturday afternoon.
The administration has imposed prohibitory orders till Monday and ordered immediate shutdown of Internet services in the district.
“The situation is tense, but under control. Even though group clash took place on Saturday morning in town area, the rioters were immediately dispersed,” Anand said, adding that four people have been arrested for rioting, reported The Times of India.
Maker police station SHO Sanjay Kumar Gupta said one Mohammad Mubarakh (22) of Dakshin Tola in Maker, who presently lives in Bengaluru, put the objectionable video on social media.
Saran ADM Rajesh Kumar said three companies of Bihar Military Police, two companies of ITBP and one company of Indian Reserve Battalion have been deployed in Chhapra. “One company of Rapid Action Force has been called from Ranchi, Jharkhand,” the ADM added. Besides, two companies of STF are on way to Chhapra from Patna and Gaya.