Curfew in Dhar as bandh turns violent

Curfew was imposed in Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday after a bandh called by Hindu fundamentalist organisations turned violent leaving 15 policemen injured and several police vehicles damaged in stone-throwing and arson.

Inspector General of Police V M Kanwar said the Rapid Action Force has been deployed.

The bandh was called to protest against the 'high-handedness' of the district administration during Tuesday's agitation by the Hindu Jagran Manch (HJM), demanding opening of the lock on the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Moula mosque. Over 150 people had been arrested.

On Wednesday, traffic was disrupted and shops remained closed in various parts of the city in response to the bandh, jointly called by the HJM, VHP, BJP and allied organisations.

HJM activists on Wednesday morning held a demonstration in front of the district collectorate and said they would submit a memorandum to the governor to highlight Tuesday's 'atrocities'.

The policemen were injured in stone pelting at Tirla and Utawad villages, where four police motorcycles were damaged. Also, a police bus was set afire by agitators and a state transport bus was burnt on the Dhar-Indore road, police said.

An all-party meeting called in Dhar to decide whether to open the Bhojshala for public darshan, ended with participants expressing conflicting views. District Collector Dr Sanjay Dubey told PTI that while some favoured opening the Bhojshala, others wanted status quo to be maintained.

Meanwhile, BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu told mediapersons in Chennai that the BJP is in favour of opening the premises for prayers to Muslims and Hindus.

However, the BJP 'disapproved of any violence to enter the locked place of worship', he said.