Communal Clash Erupts in Banswada Over Supermarket Song Dispute
An alleged altercation over the type of music being played at a supermarket escalated into a serious communal clash in Banswada town, located in Kamareddy district, on Friday evening. The incident resulted in injuries to at least two police personnel and led to significant law enforcement intervention to restore order.
Violence Triggers Police Action and Arrests
Police authorities have registered two separate cases in connection with the violence and have arrested twelve individuals accused of involvement in the rioting. In the aftermath of the clash, approximately 300 police personnel were deployed throughout the town under the direct supervision of the district Superintendent of Police (SP) to prevent any further untoward incidents. According to official statements from the SP, no civilians sustained injuries during the rioting, though property damage was reported.
Incident Origins: A Dispute Over Music Selection
The trouble began around 5:30 PM on Friday when a person, identified as a lab technician, visited the Reliance Smartbazar supermarket. He allegedly approached a woman salesperson and objected to the devotional songs, or 'bhajans', being played over the store's audio system. The technician reportedly demanded that the volume be reduced and that the music be switched to 'item songs', a term often used for Bollywood-style dance numbers.
The saleswoman detailed in her police complaint that while she was in the process of lowering the volume, the individual began taking photographs and videos of her using his mobile phone. She further alleged that this was not an isolated incident, stating that on February 10, the same person had raised a similar objection with another coworker and had verbally abused her.
Confrontation Escalates into Communal Violence
Other employees and customers within the supermarket confronted the youth, allegedly assaulting him and forcibly removing him from the premises. Witnesses from a particular community observed the assault and subsequently confronted the supermarket staff. This confrontation quickly drew larger crowds, with members of two distinct communities beginning to gather in the area.
By 7:00 PM, over 150 people from both communities had assembled approximately half a kilometer away from the supermarket. Police teams arrived on the scene in an attempt to pacify the crowd. However, the situation deteriorated as individuals began raising religious slogans and initiated stone-pelting, which resulted in injuries to two police officers.
Police Personnel Injured in the Melee
District Armed Reserve constable Jumma Narsugonda reported in his official complaint that he sustained an injury to his leg during the violence. Sub-Inspector Anjaneyulu of the Gandhari police station received an injury on his right collar bone. In response to the escalating violence, police were compelled to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control.
Legal Charges and Ongoing Investigations
Based on the constable's complaint, police filed a case on Saturday against 46 individuals from both communities. The charges are extensive, filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including rioting, attempt to murder, promoting enmity between different groups, unlawful assembly, and acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.
An initial First Information Report (FIR) had been lodged on Friday against the lab technician himself, based on the saleswoman's complaint. This FIR invokes BNS sections 77 (voyeurism), 196(1)(a) (promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
Official Statements and Post-Clash Measures
Kamareddy SP M Rajesh Chandra confirmed the arrests, stating, "We have arrested 12 accused from both the communities in the rioting case. The accused will be produced before a magistrate for remand." He assured that the situation had been brought under control and was now peaceful. The SP also highlighted proactive measures, noting, "Our teams are keeping a close watch on social media to ensure no communally provocative posts are in circulation."
Property Damage and Aftermath
In addition to the violence, the clash resulted in vandalism that damaged three fruit shops and a fast food center in the vicinity. However, as of the latest reports, the owners of these establishments had not yet filed formal police complaints regarding the property damage. The incident underscores the fragile communal dynamics in the region and the rapid escalation that can stem from seemingly minor disputes.
