A Hindu procession celebrating Ram Navami, turned violent on Friday, and set a mosque on fire in Biharsharif, a village located in Bihar’s Nalanda district, India.
The mob attacked and set fire to a mosque, as well as targeted the Muslim homes and businesses in the area.
The Imam of the mosque reported that the violence occurred approximately 500 meters ahead of the mosque and the surrounding area had no Muslim community. He stated that after discovering the mosque’s seclusion, the Hindutva mob attacked it, hurling stones that also injured him. Despite nothing happening outside or inside the mosque, a crowd assembled and vandalized it.
Furthermore, a Muslim businessman’s hotel, City Palace, was also set on fire, and several cars in the area were lit ablaze. Although the Ram Navami procession had gone peacefully through Biharsharif on Thursday, two groups fought on Friday while a “Shobha Yatra” was being conducted from Hospital Road to Baba Maniram Ka Akhada, which has a significant Muslim community.
The violence resulted in the burning down of 8-10 Muslim-owned businesses and the vandalization and burning of Digital Duniya, a Muslim-owned shop.
More than a dozen people were arrested in India’s Bihar on Sunday as raids continued in the state following two days of communal riots, according to local media.
On Saturday, the Indian media reported that fresh violence erupted in two to three places in Biharsharif in which one person was killed.
According to ANI, Superintendent of Police Ashok Mishra said that one person died during the violence in Biharsharif. He said at least 80 people were arrested after the clashes and protests.
Separately, Indian publication Scroll.in reported that authorities imposed a ban on gatherings of four or more persons in Biharsharif and Sasaram.
