Indefinite curfew was clamped in Rajasthan’s Karauli city on Saturday following arson and violence, in which over 40 persons were injured and half-a-dozen shops and some two-wheelers were set ablaze. One person with serious injuries was referred to Jaipur for treatment.
Karauli is a district headquarter, situated 170 km away from Jaipur, in eastern Rajasthan. The violence erupted with an alleged stone-pelting by unidentified persons on a motorcycle rally taken out as part of a religious procession. The rally was passing through a Muslim-dominated locality in the town.
Karauli Collector Rajendra Singh Shekhawat said additional police force had been deployed in the city to enforce curfew and maintain law and order. The incidents of arson reportedly took place at several places in Karauli. Four policemen were also injured in the violence.
The religious procession was taken out to mark the first day of the Hindu New Year. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has given instructions to the police to deal strictly with every miscreant. Mr. Gehlot appealed to the people in Karauli to maintain peace and cooperate in maintaining law and order.
