Trouble during Friday prayers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 8: Police had to fire three rounds in air to control a mob near a temple at Gazole today, after a scuffle between Hindu and Muslim communities at the time of Friday prayers.

Tension had built up between the two communities three days ago after an encounter near a mosque at Gazole.

Reportedly, a Hindu marriage procession had passed the mosque on Tuesday.

Members of the Muslim community had asked the procession not to disturb them with the music played by their wedding band, and a verbal skirmish had ensued.

The administration had set up a police camp at the spot to pre-empt hostilities but the situation threatened to get out of hand today.

A large police contingent was sent to the area to bring the situation under control.

The Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has instructed all block development officers to remain in station.

The DM also called up the leaders of the minority community and several political parties and urged them to prevent the people from assembling at the trouble spot.

Leaders, both political and of the minority community, have reached out to their block level leaders in and around the trouble spot to contain the people from flocking to the hotspot, The district administration is keeping a watchful eye on the situation.

A peace meeting, under the stewardship of a deputy superintendent of police and the block development officials of Gazole, was also held to ensure law and order in the area.

 Section 144



MALDA, May 9: The Malda district administration today promulgated Section 144 of the CrPC in 10 moujas of Gazole and Ratua blocks following communal tension building up between two communities in the area. SNS