Mumbai: At least 18 police officials, including three officers, were injured when the communal violence in Maharashtra's Malegaon and Nanded district went out of control.
In the wake of Tripura incident, the bandh was called in these districts but on Friday it spiralled out of control, as protestors started pelting stones at shops and police.
Reportedly, in Malegaon district, 10 policemen, including over a dozen people were injured. Two policemen were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital following the injury. However their condition is stable now.
On the other hand, in Nanded district, an Additional Superintendent of Police, a police inspector and six constables were injured. Besides this, at least a two-wheeler was set on fire apart from three vehicles which were damaged in the stone pelting.
According to Malegaon police, a huge number of band supporters were returning after submitting a memorandum to the local administration. After seeing some shops owners conducting their regular business, they started pelting stones at their outlets.
So far in this regard, 20 FIRs have also been registered in the matter and the state has made an appeal to maintain peace.
Speaking on the same, the Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said that presently the situation is under control and no one will be spared if found guilty.
"Situation is under control. I am personally monitoring it through senior police officials. If someone is found guilty, they won't be spared. We need to maintain social harmony, I appeal to all. I also appeal to the police to control the situation with restraint and maintain peace,'' he added.
He further asked the police to handle the situation and also ensure that no law and order issue arises.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra's former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that a few people were trying to "capitalize on the purported violence in Tripura" and asked state government to act immediately to bring the situation under control.
Reacting on the same, the state BJP president Chandrakant Patil said that due to some elements among them the whole community is being defamed otherwise it was unnecessary for the minority community to react here for the incident which took place in Tripura.