A long-standing dispute over an alleged encroachment outside a mosque in Rajasthan's Chomu town turned violent late on Thursday night, resulting in injuries to six police personnel and the detention of more than 50 individuals. The state administration has suspended internet services in the area as a precautionary measure.
Decades-Old Dispute Escalates into Violence
The core of the conflict is a stretch of land approximately 100 feet long outside the Kalandari mosque, situated near the busy Chomu bus stand intersection. For years, local residents and traders have complained that this encroachment has narrowed the main road from 100 feet to 80 feet, causing persistent traffic jams. Despite multiple complaints and police-led negotiations over several months, a resolution remained elusive, and the matter is currently under a court stay order.
Agreement Broken, Leading to Stone-Pelting
Addressing the media on Friday, Rajasthan's Minister of State for Home Affairs, Jawahar Singh Bedham, detailed the events. He stated that a meeting was held on Thursday between the police administration and the involved parties, where both sides agreed to remove the encroachment. "Both sides had agreed to remove the encroachment," Bedham confirmed.
However, the situation took a drastic turn later that night. "Late Thursday night, some miscreants attempted to re-encroach the road by installing iron railings. When the administration tried to stop them, they resorted to stone-pelting in which several police personnel were injured," the minister explained. The police response, based on video evidence and photographs, was swift, leading to multiple detentions to bring the situation under control.
Government's Firm Stance on Law and Order
The state government emphasized that its reaction was firm and immediate, undertaken on high-level directives. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma declared there would be no leniency for anyone disturbing public order. "Stone-pelters will not be treated with kid gloves and will be sent behind bars according to the law," he asserted.
Minister Bedham strongly defended the government's actions as unbiased. "The Rajasthan government's policy on encroachment removal is completely impartial and there is no question of religion or caste involved," he stated, reinforcing the official position.
Currently, the situation in Chomu is reported to be tense but under control, with a significant police presence deployed in the area. Investigations into the violent incident are ongoing.
