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| India-Pakistan |
| Clashes break out in MP, three killed |
| 2008-10-10 |
| BHOPAL: Three people were killed and at least 20 injured in Hindu-Muslim riots at Burhanpur town in south Madhya Pradesh on Friday. The district administration clamped curfew on the town and issued shoot-at-sight orders to bring the situation under control. Rioters burned more than 60 shops in Gandhi Chowk area while houses and shops were ransacked in other parts of the town by rioting mobs. Police fired warning shots to disperse rioters. Police said that the trouble started at 9:30 pm on Thursday when a religious procession was passing through a Muslim-dominated area of Burhanpur, a town close to Maharashtra border. Locals organise a three-day religious fair 'Balaji (Hanuman) Mela' right after Dussehra and a 'rath' with a Hanuman idol is taken out through the main thoroughfares of the town. Police also said that the miscreants pelted stones on the 'rath' as it was passing through the area. This sparked clashes between the two communities. For next three hours, arson continued. The local administration tried to control the situation by organising a peace meeting of religious leaders but it did not work. Finally it imposed prohibitory orders late on Thursday night. Fresh riots started on Friday afternoon when Muslims gathered at the Burhanpur's Jama Masjid for prayers. According to leader of opposition of Burhanpur Municipal Corporation Nafeez Mansaab, fresh clashes started after some unidentified men threw red 'gulaal' on Muslims offering prayers. Almost immediately the town turned into a battlefield. Shops in Gandhi Chowk area were set one fire by a group of rioters, while another group attacked the police. Additional policemen were rushed to the town. Later curfew was imposed on the town. Burhanpur SP Sunil Jain said, "Whatever the police could do to bring the situation under control was done. Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued and the entire town brought under curfew." Additional forces have been mobilised from the neighbouring districts of Indore, Dhar and Khandwa. Burhanpur is an ancient town. Shahjahan's wife Mumtaz was initially buried here. Her mausoleum was later transferred to Taj Mahal in Agra. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #1 Muslims slaughtering cows, Hindus running processions past muzz So what else is new? |
| Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800 2008-10-10 23:19 |