Rioters go on rampage in Nawada

Nawada: In yet another incident of communal flare-up in Bihar, scores of vehicles were on Sunday vandalised and a hotel was set ablaze in this district, where members of two communities clashed following reports of desecration of an idol, an official said.

Trouble erupted in Godapur village, under the Town police station area, where an idol was found vandalised, following which the members of two communities indulged in heavy stone-pelting, District Magistrate (DM) Kaushal Kumar said.

He added that an enraged mob also went on a rampage on National Highway 31, hurling stones at the vehicles and leaving scores of them damaged. The mob also set a hotel on fire, the DM said.

The police fired 10 rounds in the air to quell the mob that also reportedly manhandled a number of local journalists, who had gone to the spot to cover the incident.

The situation was brought under control, though tension prevailed in the area, the DM said, adding that a heavy deployment of police was in place.

No arrest was made in this connection so far, he said.

Nawada is located at a distance of around 70 km from state capital Patna.

Bihar has witnessed a spurt in communal clashes in the recent past. On March 17, violence broke out in Bhagalpur, where a religious procession was being led by Arijit Shashwat, the son of Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey.

On Sunday last, the members of two communities had clashed in Aurangabad over a Ram Navami procession. Similar incidents were reported from Sitamarhi, Nalanda, Sheikhpura and Munger districts over the next few days.