Clash over posters in Malugram, 144 clamped; "Won't be fair to give it a communal angle," SP Meena

A clash broke between two religious communities in Malugram’s Goniala area on Sunday evening. What started as a quarrel between two individuals got fuelled into a riot-like scenario. The police officials along with CRPF personnel rushed to the spot immediately to bring the situation under control.

Speaking to Barak Bulletin, SP Cachar, Bhanwar Lal Meena said that prima facie, it looked like a clash between two individuals over a personal issue. “It won’t be fair to give it a communal angle,” said the SP.

He added that the Police is investigating the matter and will book the ones involved in escalating the issue. “It was a breach of law and order and we will take action as per the provisions,” he asserted.

As per available information, yesterday during Eid-Al-Adha celebrations, a few unidentified young individuals threw pamphlets on the streets of Goniala which read (in Bengali), “Cow slaughtering in this lane is not allowed and if slaughtered the result will be dangerous.”

“Yesterday it was chaos, today it would have been a carnage had the Police not intervened. Rumours started spreading thick and fast in the locality which resulted in a brawl between the two communities.” said a local resident. He added, “Today, initially it was a quarrel between two small groups of youths. However, soon the crowd grew big in number and started vandalising the residences, shops of one particular community. They even pelted stone on one Ambulance, and destroyed a rickshaw.”

Another resident alleged that the local MP, MLA abandoned them while they were attacked. “We will protest in front of the party office. The MP or MLA did not receive our calls during distress,” said the resident who claimed to be a worker of a political party.

A sword was also confiscated from the locality which is now cordoned by the CRPF officials. Peace meetings are expected to take place on Monday which also happens to be Raksha Bandhan.

Dilip Kr. Dey, DIGP(SR) also went to the spot. He reiterated what SP Meena said and echoed, “This is not a communal clash but it is actually a personal tiff between two individuals that got spread.”

The DIGP added, “We will take all necessary steps to ensure law and order is maintained. This is a small issue and should not be blown out of proportion. We have tried to explain it to the locals and hopefully, leaders of both the communities will talk to respective groups and help in restoring peace and harmony.”

Dey added, 144 has been clamped in the Greater Malugram area which includes Goniala as well as Malugram.

Sources in the administration have informed that a curfew will be clamped in Greater Malugram during the day. “The order is yet to be issued,” said Meena. However, he did not rule it out.