5 injured in communal clashes, security beefed up in Faridabad

At least five persons were injured and around 15 houses gutted after a clash erupted between two communities over construction of a religious structure in Atali village here, following which the district administration has beefed up security.
At least five persons were injured and about 15 houses burnt last night when people from the two communities clashed over construction of the religious structure adjacent to the other community's religious site, SHO In-charge Inspector Preetpal said.
The trouble began yesterday when the roof of the religious structure was being laid, he said.
A group of people from the other community started pelting stones and turned violent with equal retaliation from the other side, he said.

The group poured kerosene on the houses of those belonging to the community and set them on fire. The people fled from their houses, he said.
Section 144 was imposed in the village, he said, adding, twenty people have been booked under various sections of the IPC and Arms Act.

The police are on a strict vigil to avoid any untoward situation, the inspector said.
The SHO of Police Station Chainsa has been suspended for not handling the situation well.
Police force from six nearby districts was called to control the situation, an official said, adding that flag march was also conducted by the police.

Haryana Commissioner of Police Subhash Yadav, Sub Divisional Magistrate Priyanka Soni, DCP Bhupinder Singh, and other senior police and administration officials visited the village to review the situation, an official said.
Local MLA Moolchand Sharma said a meeting was organised in the SDM's office today in which people from both the communities participated and the matter was resolved.
The government will compensate those affected and action will be taken against the accused, the MLA added.