Nuh/Sohna : Following Monday’s communal violence in Nuh-Sohna, Mewat, in which six people, including two Homeguards, were killed and over 90 injured, including more than 20 police officers, the angry mob set fire to over 100 vehicles and left burnt vehicles on the highways. A large contingent of police and paramilitary forces was deployed in case of any untoward incidents. Law enforcement agencies are on the lookout not only on the ground but also in cyberspace for potential flashpoints that could spark further unrest in the region.

“Six people, including two members of the Home Guards and four civilians, died in the incident. So far, 116 people have been arrested. They are being remanded in custody. Those found guilty will not be spared. We are committed to the safety of the public. The overall situation in the state is normal. We appeal to the public to maintain peace, calm and brotherhood,” Haryana CM Khattar told a news agency.

Some 93 criminal cases have been registered, including 46 in Nuh, 23 in Gurugram, three in Faridabad, three in Rewari and 18 in Palwal, said T V S N Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), adding that a Rapid Action Force centre  would be set up in Nuh soon.

The failure of the district administration to take action against communal elements has created a situation resembling a war zone in Neh and Sohna areas of Mewat district in Haryana. A curfew has been imposed in the town for the past four days after the administration failed to take action against the communal leaders who triggered this violence.

The violence erupted in Nuh in an attempt to stop the annual Hindu religious procession through the Muslim-majority Nuh region, which spread to Gurugram in recent days. The Muslim community was outraged when it was announced that the procession would include Monu Manesar, who is wanted by police for the murder of two Muslim men.

Rioters also rammed a bus into the Nuh Cyber police station and damaged numerous police vehicles. They set fire to police vehicles, some of which were parked in nearby police stations. To save their lives, some police officers fled the area. A rioting mob destroyed the glass fence of Alwar Hospital in Nuh district.

Paramilitaries on patrol, armed with batons and rifles, roamed Nuh and Sohna. Anyone who left his house during curfew was beaten up by them.

The Haryana government has set up a committee to monitor social media platforms to prevent the spread of provocative material, including videos, photos and hate speech, in order to maintain law and order and harmony among communities in the state. The committee was formed after the riots in Nuh.

The curfew imposed on the town on July 31 following the clashes has not been lifted in the affected area, leaving people without basic necessities. Family members said that although the curfew was relaxed for a few hours a day, they still did not dare to leave their homes.

“Social media played an important role in the Nuh incident, so I have appointed a three-member committee. The committee will check all social media platforms (for posts) from July 21 to July 31. If anyone has posted anything provocative, action will be taken against him under the law,” Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said.