Imam Killed in Gurugram Mosque Attack

NEW DELHI: A mob attacked a mosque in Gurugram and killed its naib imam, taking the toll in the violence that erupted since late on Monday over an attempt to stop a Vishwa Hindu Parishad procession in Haryana’s Nuh district to five.

Curfew was also imposed in Nuh where four people, including two home guards, were killed and many others injured on Monday, as state home minister Anil Vij claimed that the violence was “engineered”. The police conducted flag marches in the district and the administration appealed to the public to maintain peace.

All educational institutions were ordered to remain closed in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Palwal districts as a precautionary measure.

Central forces were also deployed in Nuh and the Internet was suspended in the area and a few more neighbouring districts to contain the spread of violence.

While peace committee meetings were held in Nuh and Sohna, with people assuring the administration that they will cooperate fully in maintaining peace, another incident of violence was reported from Gurugram, wherein two shops in Badshapur were set ablaze by a mob at about 2 pm. The area shopkeepers said that both their occupants had already fled to their villages on Monday.

Gurugram’s deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar  Yadav appealed to people not to pay heed to rumours.

He said: “There are some rumours and fake messages circulating on the social media, which are exaggerating the damage or people are claiming to be community leaders and asking people to gather to ‘take revenge’. Our district IT cell is monitoring the channels and cases will be lodged against these elements and strict action will be taken.”

Yadav said: “Our attempt will be to activate peace committees in the district so that peace prevails.”