GURUGRAM: People in Haryana’s Nuh district are bracing for another storm to pass as Hindu groups announced to defy police orders to “complete” a religious procession, which was at the centre of communal riots that killed seven people earlier this month.
The religious procession – Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra – came under heavy attack soon after it started from the Mahadev Temple in Nalhad village on July 31, triggering one of the deadliest violence in Haryana.
Police have denied permission to RSS offshoot Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu outfits from taking out the procession in order to prevent a repetition of the communal violence.
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Internet services have been suspended, restrictions imposed on movement under section 144 of CrPC, and schools and colleges have been closed in the district. A high alert has been sounded in the entire state and the police have set up barricades at district borders to check movement of potential rally participants.
Police personnel have also been deployed at the Mahadev Temple in Nalhad, which came under heavy attack as miscreants pelted stones and fired from hillocks surrounding its premises. Police have blocked access within a 1-km radius of the temple.
In addition to cops, the government has also deployed 30 companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in Nuh and surrounding districts. Drones have also been deployed.
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Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has appealed to people to perform jalabhishek (the ritual of offering sacred water to Lord Shiva) at their homes and nearby temples. August 29 marks the last Monday of the holy month of Shravan for Hindus.
Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, were killed in the clashes and more than 200 were injured. Many vehicles were also set ablaze during the violence.
Haryana Police had registered more than 140 FIRs and arrested 312 people for their involvement in the riots. The state BJP government has transferred several high-ranking officers for their failure to prevent the violence.