Fatehpura on edge, mishap sparks stone pelting

VADODARA: A minor accident between a car and a two-wheeler led to rioting and heavy stone pelting in Fatehpura-Bhandwada area late on Tuesday night. As many as 33 people from both the communities were arrested soon after the incident.
A State Reserve Police (SRP) personnel was injured and some vehicles were damaged in the rioting that started at about 11 pm. The police had to lob three teargas shells to quell the rioters who went berserk.Some rioters even tried to set ablaze a two-storeyed house in Marwadi Mohalla in the locality but the cops reached on spot in time. The family staying in the house claimed that their neighbours sprayed kerosene on the walls of their home.
The cops have arrested 33 persons from both communities. Many more are expected to be arrested, police sources said.
Four days ago, riots had occurred in Fatehpura over desecration of an idol in a temple. The mob had set a house on fire and ransacked bank ATMs during the rioting.
“A minor accident on Tuesday night led to the rioting in Fatehpura-Bhandwada area. The police rushed to the spot and controlled the situation. We have stepped up security in the communally sensitive areas,” said city police commissioner, E Radhakrishana.
As heavy stone pelting began in Fatehpura, a house occupied by Mehmoodkhan Pathan in Marwadi Mohalla came under attack. Pathan’s daughter Shaina said that the neighbours entered their house and tried to set it on fire by dousing kerosene on the walls. “We called the police that saved us in the nick of time,” Shaina said. However, her neighbour Amrutdas Marwadi said that stones were pelted at them from Pathan’s house.
“They are in business of liquor and we have been opposing it. So were attacked,” Marwadi claimed. The police said that when they reached the spot they saw the walls drenched in kerosene.“We have arrested members of both families from the area,” said a police official. The police haven’t been able to track down drivers of the car and two-wheeler fight between whom led to the rioting.