Curfew declared in Bundi after tension over idol damage

JAIPUR: Curfew was imposed at Nainwa village in Bundi district of the state after tension gripped the place on Friday night over the damage of an idol of Lord Hanuman. Since the angry mob was ransacking, vandalizing and stone pelting, the district magistrate declared curfew in the Nainwa village to avoid any further problem of law and order in the region.
Some of the devotees coming to worship Lord Hanuman were stunned to see that parts of the idol were damaged by some unknown assailants. The news idol damage spread like wild fire and soon converted into a tension as people were on the road to protest against it. "The angry mob has set a bus on fire and pelted stones. Later, the senior police officers and officers of the district administration rushed to the spot and on Saturday morning curfew was imposed in town," said a senior police officer.
Tension has engulfed the region from late Friday evening after the locals found the idol badly damaged. "Several people gheraoed the Nainwa police station and created ruckus outside it. However, mild force was used to disperse them," said a senior police officer of Bundi district.
Angry mob also pelted stones in which at least five policemen sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital.
After the incident, section 144 of CrPC was immediately imposed in Nainwa area covering Khanpur. "Curfew was imposed to avoid any further clashes and violence in the area. We have identified at least 35 miscreants responsible for disturbing peace. Some of them have been arrested for breaching the law," the police officer said.
Additional forces were sent to the area to maintain law and order. "Teams of special task force, Rajasthan armed constabulary and others have been sent to the spot to maintain law and order," the police officer added.
Police have lodged cases under appropriate sections of IPC including provoking communal violence and hurting religious sentiments and detained 16 people till now in this connection.