The Asian Age
September 7,
2009
Sangli curfew after communal clash
UMESH
MOHITE
MUMBAI
Sept. 6: The riot
which erupted in Miraj near Sangli over Shiva Sena posters showing
warrior king Shivaji killing Mughal warlord Afzal Khan has turned into
a political slugfest with Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan
accusing "communal" parties of fanning the riots for political
capital.
On Sunday, the
state government acknowledged the fact that the riots, which erupted
in Miraj on the day of Ananat Chaturdashi, Thursday, has spread to
other parts of Sangli district and Kolhapur.
The police said
the curfew in Miraj had been extended from 12.30 pm on Sunday
afternoon to 9.30 am on Monday. A curfew is also imposed in Sangli
city till 2.00 pm on Monday during which period barring essential
services, all the other establishments would remain closed.
The riots broke
out on Thursday over the issue of a Shiv Sena and Hindu Ekta Sanghatan
having the scene of "killing of Afzal Khan" as part of a Ganesh mandal
at Laxmi market area in Miraj. Some miscreants broke the arch of the
mandal depicting the scene as well as other decorations arranged by
various Ganeshostav mandals. The right-wing Hindu organisations have
decided not to have immersion procession until the arches are
restored. Around 140 Ganesh idols have not yet been immersed in the
Miraj area.
The police said,
the area was also tense due to the maha aartis performed before a
popular Ganpati temple in Kolhapur by the Janshakti Party. The
district also observed a bandh on Saturday. Mr Chavan’s come a couple
of days after the BJP made a frontal attack on the Congress saying
riots on the occasion of Ganesh immersion in several parts of the
state was the handiwork of the Congress to spread a fear psychosis
among the Muslims.