Communal Violence in Jamshedpur - Report in the media and an alarming email on 23 July 2015

The Hindu, July 23, 2015

Jharkhand
Jamshedpur tense after communal flare-up

Special Correspondent

Security personnel patrolling at Mango area during curfew following clashes after an eve-teasing case, in Jamshedpur on Wednesday. Photo PTI

Clashes took place between two communities over 72 hours following an incident of ‘teasing of girls’

Communal violence has been reported from Jamshedpur over the last 72 hours following an incident of “teasing of girls.” Members of the two communities attacked each other with sticks and pelted stones at each other in the north, west and eastern parts of Jameshedpur, famously known as Steel City.

Senior Superintendent of Police Anoop T. Mathew said that the situation was brought under control on Wednesday. In the afternoon, curfew was relaxed for four hours in Jamshedpur, other than four police station areas in Mango, Azadnagar, MGM and Alidih. (According to PTI, curfew was re-imposed in the city after a four-hour relaxation as tension continued to prevail in the affected areas of Mango.)

However, locals told The Hindu on phone that an incident was first reported on Friday in the Golamuri area, when following a protest to stop “anti-social activity,” a middle-aged person was lynched. The police, however, categorically refused to connect the incident with the communal flare-up that took place over the last two days.

“That (lynching) was a separate criminal act and had nothing to do with the ensuing violence,” Mr. Mathew said.

He attributed the sporadic violence of the last 72 hours in localities like Maango, Azadpur or MGM to “teasing of girls in the area” by local youth. Following the incident, right-wing groups called for bandh.

“Eventually curfew was imposed. Police and CRPF conducted flag marches and the situation was brought under control,” Mr. Mathew said. However, till Wednesday no one had come forward to register any complaint of eve-teasing.

Additional Director General of Police S.N. Pradhan said that sufficient companies of district police and paramilitary personnel were deployed and the incidents were being investigated.

“The process to identify the culprits has started, justice will be meted out,” he said. Several incidents of communal flare-ups have been reported from the same areas of Jamshedpur over the last 50 years.


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---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Sahana Manjesh
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2015 at 00:03
Subject: Distress call - riots in Jamshedpur
To:

Might have heard about the riots in Jamshedpur as they're brewing. In case you have friends there who might be able to help, or if you could just spread the word...

More here:

dear all,
riots have broken out in jamshedpur following an incident of
harassment of girls by three men on a bike wielding fire arms.
according to news reports these men opened fire at Gandhi maidan in
the mango area where a mela was organised for Eid celebrations.

these incidents have led to several violent clashes between the
communities. several have been hurt, arrested and detained. curfew was
also declared in the city.

in the mango area the most vulnerable are the bastis. a large muslim
pocket resides in block no.14 of this area. this is predominantly a
muslim basti. beside this is a large maidan and people here are being
attacked from this side by men with swords and lathis. the police is
offering no strong protection. they have been deployed near the main
roads which is very far from the basti. as a result the residents feel
they are not safe and have sought help. they are very tense and the
entire community has been up since last night fearing the worst.

This is to request you to urgently send sms or call the following
numbers in the Police, asking them to extend protection to the
residents of this area.

DGP DK Pandey - 943170097/ 7766906600

Deputy Comissioner (Jamshedpur) 9431140525

SP City 9471190203

Further, if people in and around the Jamshedpur area can visit and
extend support and solidarity to the people of the place and provide
an update, it will be very helpful

please curculate to as many people as you can.
thank you,
m