Dehradun:At least three persons were killed and 30 injured, including 10 policemen and senior administrative officials, in communal clashes in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand on Sunday, prompting authorities to impose curfew in several areas of the district.
This is the first time communal clashes broke out in Uttarakhand after the state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000.
Uttarakhand DGP J S Pandey told TOI that communal clashes broke out around 7.30am after a copy of a religious book wrapped in a dirty linen was found on the premises of a temple near Indira Chowk on Delhi-Nainital National Highway on the outskirts of Udham Singh Nagar city.
As the news spread, people took to the streets and threw stones at houses of people living near a shrine, Pandey said, adding that the the residents of these houses retaliated resulting in clashes. Udham Singh Nagar SDM B B Godiyal was injured when he rushed to the spot.
Pandey said injured people were taken to Haldwani Medical College, Haldwani Base Hospital and Udham Singh Nagar District Hospital.
“So far, 25 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes. We are monitoring the situation and taking all necessary steps,” Rajeev Gupta, principal secretary (home), Uttarakhand, said.
Udham Singh Nagar SSP GS Martolia said over 25 shops owned by both Hindus and Muslims were set ablaze and more than a dozen police and other vehicles were damaged. Martolia said senior administrative and police officers including divisional commissioner (Kumaon) Kunal Sharma and Kumaon DIG visited the spot.
The police fired in air at Indira Chowk area to disperse stone-pelting mob, the SSP said, adding indefinite curfew was imposed at various places in the Udham Singh Nagar district. Martolia said PAC and other paramilitary forces were also deployed in sensitive areas of the district.
This is the first time communal clashes broke out in Uttarakhand after the state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000.
Uttarakhand DGP J S Pandey told TOI that communal clashes broke out around 7.30am after a copy of a religious book wrapped in a dirty linen was found on the premises of a temple near Indira Chowk on Delhi-Nainital National Highway on the outskirts of Udham Singh Nagar city.
As the news spread, people took to the streets and threw stones at houses of people living near a shrine, Pandey said, adding that the the residents of these houses retaliated resulting in clashes. Udham Singh Nagar SDM B B Godiyal was injured when he rushed to the spot.
Pandey said injured people were taken to Haldwani Medical College, Haldwani Base Hospital and Udham Singh Nagar District Hospital.
“So far, 25 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes. We are monitoring the situation and taking all necessary steps,” Rajeev Gupta, principal secretary (home), Uttarakhand, said.
Udham Singh Nagar SSP GS Martolia said over 25 shops owned by both Hindus and Muslims were set ablaze and more than a dozen police and other vehicles were damaged. Martolia said senior administrative and police officers including divisional commissioner (Kumaon) Kunal Sharma and Kumaon DIG visited the spot.
The police fired in air at Indira Chowk area to disperse stone-pelting mob, the SSP said, adding indefinite curfew was imposed at various places in the Udham Singh Nagar district. Martolia said PAC and other paramilitary forces were also deployed in sensitive areas of the district.
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