Section 144 Imposed in Jamshedpur After Clashes Over ‘Desecration’ of Religious Flag

GG News Bureau

Jamshedpur, 10th April. Brick-batting and arson between two groups over the alleged desecration of a religious flag at Shastrinagar in Jamshedpur prompted the authorities to issue Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the area on Sunday night.

Two shops and an auto-rickshaw were set ablaze by the warring groups and the police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob, an official said.

To maintain law and order in Shastrinagar, Jharkhand’s Kadma police station, an adequate police force has been deployed.

“Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 of CrPC were clamped in the area,” said Sub-Divisional Officer (Dhalbhum), Piyush Sinha.

East Singhbhum district Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav stated that some anti-social elements are attempting to disrupt peace and has requested citizens’ support in foiling their plot.

“We have been keeping strict vigil on the situation and deployed adequate police force, a Quick Response Team, a Magistrate, Rapid Action Force personnel and other anti-riot resources to maintain law and order,” she said in a statement.

Tension has been brewing in the area since Saturday night when members of a local organisation found that a piece of meat was tagged to a Ram Navami flag, police said.

Several such organisations protested and demanded that the perpetrators be arrested within 24 hours.

The situation escalated on Sunday evening when a shop was destroyed, resulting in brick-batting on both sides.

A mob also set fire to an autorickshaw, prompting police to use tear gas shells.

Locals set fire to the shops and the auto-rickshaw, according to DIG (Kolhan) Ajay Linda.

According to the deputy commissioner, those who engage in anti-social activities in order to disrupt communal harmony will face severe consequences.

She also urged people not to believe rumours or share inflammatory social media posts.

Other officers camping in the area include Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar, Superintendent of Police (City) K Vijay Shankar, and Sub-Divisional Officer (Dhalbhum) Piyush.