Following two days of communal unrest in Maharashtra's Mira Road while the Ram Mandir was being inaugurated in Ayodhya, the authorities on Tuesday, 23 January, initiated bulldozer action in Mira Road's Naya Nagar area where the clashes took place.
Communal clashes were reported in several parts of the state, including Mira Road and Panvel areas that are adjacent to Mumbai on 21 and 22 January.
The clashes intensified in Mira Road over two consecutive days, with the situation reported to be under control on Tuesday. Here's everything we know so far:
Clashes After a Bike Rally in Mira Road
There were two incidents reported from Naya Nagar area of Mira Road on Sunday and Monday, with 13 people having been arrested so far.
At about 11 pm on Sunday, the police reportedly tried to stop a rally of Hindus from entering a Muslim locality, following which tensions arose on both sides and led to clashes.
Videos accessed by The Quint as well as on social media show cars being attacked and vandalised by a mob. Later in the night, the police carried out marches to control the situation from escalating further.
The first FIR was registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 307 (attempt to murder), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 295A (malicious acts to outrage religious feelings), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 141 (unlawful assembly), 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly), 149 (commission of an offence by any member of the unlawful assembly), and 427 (damage to the amount of fifty rupees).
The following day, even as local Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLA Pratap Sarnaik met Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey at the Mira-Bhayandar-Vasai-Virar police headquarters to appeal for strict action against perpetrators, clashes were reported from the area between two groups during which stones were allegedly pelted from both sides.
While the trigger for the second clash is still unclear, a second FIR has been registered in the matter.
The situation has been peaceful on Tuesday, sources said, with the Rapid Action Force (RAF) also having carried out a march in the area.
What Happened in Panvel?
A minor clash was also reported form the Kachhi Mohalla area of Panvel, after a few youth carrying out a bike rally chanted slogans outside a local mosque which led to a clash.
Three people suffered injuries in the clash that took place and were taken to a local hospital for treatment. No case has been registered so far.
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