The death toll in WednesdayÂ’s violence in Bhiwandi, in the western Indian town of Thane, rose to four yesterday, with the death of two policemen who were lynched by rioters and two Muslim youth who were shot dead by police. The two policemen, R.Y. Jagtap of Bhoiwada police station, and B. R. Gangurde of Narpoli police station, were allegedly lynched on Wednesday night by an angry mob while on patrol duty. The two youth who were earlier shot dead in police firing were identified as Ramzan Khan and Abdul Malik.A violent mob of Muslims
The trouble erupted following the beginning of the construction of a police station on a disputed land adjacent to the Quarter Gate Mosque, which Muslims claimed as being Waqf property and a burial ground for the community. The mob then pulled down the construction that had taken place. The police on the other hand claimed the land to be government property since 1920.
In order to bring the situation under control the police imposed a curfew on Wednesday night in the Islampura area, after more than 3,000 members of the minority community went on a rampage and set fire to seven government buses and several two-wheeler vehicles. The situation in the Muslim dominated textile town remains tense but under control. Police have continued the curfew. The police fear an outbreak of violence and arson during the funeral of the two Muslim youth and policemen.