Scattered incidents of unrest was reported from some places across the country on the eve of Holi and on the day of the festival. A clash erupted between two groups during a Holi Procession on Friday in Jharkhand's Giridih district.
Another communal incident was reported in Maharashtra라이브 바카라 Ratnagiri where a group of men allegedly rammed the gate of a mosque on the eve of Holi. The Police has reportedly booked several youth after a case was filed.
Giridih Incident
Police forces were deployed and the situation was brought under contro in Ghodthamba when the passing of a Holi procession through the area was opposed by a group, leading to a clash in which both sides pelted each other with stones.
Khorimahua Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rajendra Prasad told PTI, "A large police contingent was deployed to restore peace in the area. The situation is under control and is being monitored closely."
A manhunt has been launched to nab those involved in a clash during a Holi procession in Jharkhand's Giridih district, police said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand BJP chief and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi blamed the JMM-led government for the incident.
"The tragic incident of stone pelting and arson on a Holi procession in Ghorthamba of Giridih is the result of politics of appeasement of the Hemant Soren government, and the failure of the administrative system," he said in a post on X.
Union minister Annapurna Devi alleged that the situation worsened due to lack of vigilance by the local administration.
"The attempt by some anti-social elements to disturb communal harmony on the auspicious occasion of Holi, the festival of love and brotherhood, is unfortunate," the Koderma MP said.
Ratnagiri Incident
The alleged communal incident took place in Rajapur village, nearly 400 kms south of Mumbai in Ratnagiri district when the persons involved were celebrating the Shimga festival, or Madachi miravnuk which is a Konkani ritual that involves carrying a tree trunk to the Dhopeshwar temple.
According to an Indian Express report, the locals carrying a tree trunk as part of the ritual, rammed it into the mosque gate several times and had also allegedly raised provocative slogans.
A local resident was quoted by IE who said, "…While the miravnuk (procession) is an old custom in Konkan (region), but this time around we were shocked that they rammed the trunk into the gate. The gate was then locked, but they rammed the trunk again. Some people were also raising aggressive slogans which vitiated the atmosphere.”
Ratnagiri SP Dhananjay Kulkarni told the media, “Some youngsters in front of the procession, who were under the influence of alcohol, behaved aggressively and chanted slogans outside the mosque. We have registered an FIR against them under Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act as they defied prohibitory orders issued by the administration.”
"prima facie does not appear to be planned", he added, "Actually there was a large crowd and due to the momentum from the back, the trunk was propelled forwards."
