Episodes of violence gripped the nation across various states during the Ram Navami celebrations. In Bihar tension continued to prevail even a day after as new cases of violence were reported in Rohtas and Nalanda districts yesterday, the police said as per an NDTV report.
One person was killed and several others injured after clashes broke out between two groups last evening in Biharsharif, Nalanda. Six other people were injured in a blast in Sasaram town of Rohtas district.
Police said they have recovered a two-wheeler from the site of the blast, a house in Sasaram. "The injured are being treated at a hospital in Sasaram and investigation is on," an official said. Prohibitory orders were imposed in Nalanda to maintain law and order in the region.
The first rounds of clashes were first reported on Friday in the two districts.
Biharsharif, also the home constituency of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is infamous for episodes of violence against minorities historically. In April 2014, communal violence in Biharsharif claimed 48 lives, leaving 68 injured, mostly Muslims. Violence was reported to have been inflicted upon 22 villages of the Nalanda district, with incidents of looting, killing, and rapes.
This year tension started to build up from Thursday over taking out Ram Navami processions. By Friday afternoon, it spiraled into heated clashes, with the groups attacking each other with stones.
The report quoted Nalanda District Magistrate, Shashank Shubhankar saying that at least 80 people have been arrested in connection to the violence and meetings are being held by community leaders urging people to maintain peace.
Security was tightened in Nalanda and Rohtas, with senior officials present in the affected region. Additionally, social media is also being monitored to prevent the spread of any false or provocative news.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, earlier scheduled to visit Sasaram today, spoke to Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar this morning over the current situation in the state. He had canceled his trip following communal tension in the area.
Nitish Kumar alleged that communal tensions in the state were triggered by some people indulging in "gadbad" (mischief).
