The Rajasthan police on Monday arrested 46 people and detained seven others for interrogation following a stone-pelting incident during a religious procession in Karauli on Saturday.
The Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Bharatpur Range, Prasanna Kumar Khamesra said, “After stone pelting took place during the procession in Futa Kot area Main Bazaar Karauli on Saturday, the police acted promptly and arrested 46 people and detained seven people for interrogation.” “13 accused have been arrested in connection with the incident in the case registered at Police Station Karauli and 33 people have been arrested for violating curfew order. 07 people have been detained for questioning. A total of 21 two-wheelers and four-wheelers were also seized by the police,” Khamesra added. IG Prasanna Kumar Khmesra said, “In view of the sensitivity of the incident, he immediately reached Karauli on the spot and took stock of the situation along with Superintendent of Police Karauli Shailendra Singh Indoliya, called the necessary police force and Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) from other districts of the range and imposed it on the spot for peace and order.”
Police Headquarters, for close supervision of the situation, has sent ADG Sanjib Kumar, IG Bharat Lal Meena, DIG (Crime branch) Jaipur Rahul Prakash, DCP Mridul Kachawa, and DCP Jaipur Narayan Togas to Karauli, informed the police.
IG Khamesra added, “To maintain law and order in the area, the situation is being closely monitored by police patrolling at various places in the city. A flag march was conducted in the city by the police force.”
The situation is under control but a curfew has been imposed in the city as a precautionary measure, he added.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the central government should take responsibility and condemn recent communal violence in Rajasthan.
The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to react to the gruesome incident as soon as possible. Speaking to reporters today, Ashok Gehlot said, “PM Modi should take responsibility and condemn recent communal violence in Rajasthan. It’s his duty to maintain law and order. I urge him to address the issue soon.”
“It is everyone’s right to propagate the goodness of any religion. But the unrest spread by playing DJ, raising slogans in the procession, and anti-social elements sparked riots. In the process, innocent lives get trapped and those who are not involved in the riots die. To stop the violence and disturbance in the country, the central government should give a strong message,” he said. The Chief Minister added, “The Prime Minister should condemn the anti-social elements, try to establish law and order in the country and anti-social elements should be punished.”
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was imposed in the Karauli district of Rajasthan on Saturday and the internet was shut down after stones were pelted during a ‘Shobha Yatra’ procession that day. Section 144 was imposed in Karauli from 6:30 pm on April 2 till 12 am on April 4.