Vadodara simmering again

VADODARA: The communally sensitive Yakutpura area was simmering with tension after clashes broke out near Sarasiya Lake late on Thursday night.
Amid heavy stone pelting from both sides, the state reserve police (SRP) personnel posted in the area also came under attack. They fired five rounds in the air to disperse the rampaging mob. Two SRP men suffered minor injuries while several vehicles were damaged by the rioters.
On Friday, police arrested 15 persons from both communities on Friday.
According to police, some persons from a community had gone to Sarasiya lake to perform rituals at about 10.30pm on Thursday. “When the rituals were on, a glass bottle and stones were thrown at the SRP cabin nearby. Soon mobs from both communities came on road and began pelting stones at each other. Both communities are blaming each other for starting stone pelting,” said city police commissioner E Radhakrishana.
Police took control of the situation within an hour and deployed heavy security there. “A piece of land located next to Sarasiya Lake seems to be the point of contention. Locals from both communities wanted to have control over the land. Boys from both communities used to regularly play cricket there and conflicts too happened. On Thursday night, some mischief monger instigated the stone pelting due to the conflict,” Radhakrishana told TOI.
An additional SRP point consisting of five cops was set up at Yakutpura on Friday following the riots. Police have also written to Vadodara Municipal Corporation on Friday to do fencing around the land.
Several questions are being raised about the deteriorating law and order situation in Vadodara, known as the Sanskarnagari (cultured city). Since June 2014 alone, not less than 17 incidents of communal riots have rocked several parts of the city.
Times View
That a riot has occurred in Vadodara once every 17 days over the past 10 months is an indicator of growing law and order problem. There is a need to address the problem in a holistic manner. Besides efficient policing, authorities - the administration and bureaucracy - should engage in community outreach to bridge the growing divide between communities. Reactive policing is a temporary solution; proactive community focus will yield more durable peace.