Maharashtra: Police, public vehicles set on fire during clash between two groups in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; visuals surface

Aurangabad: Some police vans along with public vehicles were set on fire during a clash between two groups in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar's [erstwhile Aurangabad] Kiradpura area, the Maharashtra police said on Thursday.

The clash broke out on the intervening night of March 29 and 30.

The clashes occurred late on Wednesday with some people shouting slogans, which was followed by stone pelting.

Soon, it turned more violent with several vehicles in the vicinity allegedly being set ablaze by the rioters.

Police teams were rushed there to combat the situation but even they were targetted by the stone pelters.

"Stones were pelted, and some private and police vehicles were set on fire. Police used force to disperse the people and now the situation is peaceful," Commissioner of Police (CP) of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Nikhil Gupta said.

He further said that police will take strict action against the miscreants.

Even as the Deputy Chief Minister appealed for restraint, the situation was brought under control early Thursday morning.

There have been no reports of casualties in the incident, which has alarmed the minority-dominated city in the midst of the Holy Ramadan month of fasting.

Ambadas Danve, Leader of Opposition (Council) of the Shiv Sena (UBT), condemned the clashes and blamed them on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen.

(With IANS inputs)