– Raheem Khan
Udaipur, Rajasthan, August 18: A minor altercation between two students at a government school here Friday rapidly escalated into widespread communal unrest. The incident triggered a series of violent reactions, including vandalism, stone-pelting at shopping malls, and arson of vehicles parked in a garage. To disperse the agitated mob, the police were forced to resort to a lathi charge around 7 PM. In response to the escalating violence, the district collector imposed Section 144 across the city, while the divisional commissioner ordered a 24-hour internet shutdown, effective from 10 PM on Friday.
The atmosphere has remained tense since the incident. In light of the volatile situation, a significant police force has been deployed in the affected areas to maintain order.
On Saturday, officials from the municipal corporation arrived at the residence of Salim Sheikh, father of the accused involved in the stabbing incident, in Dewan Shah Ali Colony. The authorities initiated a demolition drive at the property, citing that the family had constructed the house illegally on forest department land. Despite issuing a three-day notice, the demolition was expedited and completed within a few hours. The municipal teams removed belongings from the house, disconnected the electricity supply, and used a bulldozer to raze the structure, all under heavy police protection.
According to district collector Arvind Poswal, the initial incident occurred on the morning of August 16 when two students engaged in a fight, resulting in one student stabbing the other. The injured student was immediately hospitalized and is currently in stable condition. This altercation, though minor, was sensationalized by certain groups, leading to the communal flare-up.
The situation has been particularly fragile since the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, with even minor incidents being blown out of proportion. In this case, anti-social elements and members of certain Hindu organizations were reportedly responsible for inflaming tensions.
The district administration’s decision to demolish the house of the accused student’s father has drawn significant attention. The family was reported to be tenants in the now-demolished house.
A large police force has been stationed at the hospital where the injured student is receiving treatment.
