Bihar: 13 Apprehended In Clash Over Religious Flag Hoisting

Police have apprehended at least 13 individuals linked with a clash that erupted over objections to hoisting a religious flag near a place of worship belonging to another community in Bihar’s Darbhanga district. The incident occurred near Bazar Samiti Chowk in Darbhanga town in the northern part of the state on Sunday.

The situation has been brought under control in the Bazar Samiti area, and adequate forces have been deployed in the region to maintain peace. The local police has taken required measures, arresting the suspects after registering a case related to the clash. The district police are closely monitoring the locality to prevent any further escalation.

The conflict involved members of both communities engaging in stone-pelting, but prompt intervention by the police and local administration quelled the violence. District Magistrate Rajiv Raushan convened a meeting of the peace committee, consisting of representatives from both communities, to address the issue. The committee advised against hoisting flags in places where it has not been done before or where objections may arise. It was suggested that the district administration be informed beforehand about flag-hoisting locations to ensure adequate arrangements are in place.

Senior Superintendent of Police Avakash Kumar stated that the dispute could have been resolved peacefully, but it escalated due to the involvement of some anti-social elements from both sides who resorted to stone-pelting. Several police personnel sustained minor injuries during the incident.

In light of the ongoing festive seasons, the Bihar Police has intensified its social media surveillance to identify and track individuals posting provocative, objectionable, or blasphemous content that may disrupt peace in the state. The Economic Offences Unit of the state police has also alerted 44 cyber police stations and district administrations to closely monitor social media platforms for hateful and provocative messages. The authorities are determined to take strict action against any individuals or organizations involved in such illegal activities to maintain law and order during the festive period.

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