New Delhi (Agency): The repercussions of the communal violence in Haryana have escalated, as the death toll rose to six on Wednesday. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) confirmed the death of an injured Bajrang Dal activist. Simultaneously, several instances of arson and vandalism occurred in Gurugram, which remains tense following the unrest in this region and in Nuh.
According to the police, at least five areas in Gurugram experienced vandalism and arson on Tuesday night. This destruction included the torching of many shops and storage facilities.
Around 9:30 pm on Tuesday, a fire broke out at a storage facility and a neighboring puncture shop in Sector 70A. Police promptly sent two fire trucks, managing to extinguish the fire within half an hour. Later, at around 1 am, three more storage facilities near Teekli village were intentionally set ablaze. The police also reported acts of vandalism against two meat shops in the Badshahpur area and the arson of a storage facility in Palam Vihar.
In another disturbing episode, slums near Nakhdola village were assaulted by a group of young individuals, according to a high-ranking police officer. He further noted that some individuals attempted to burn down a puncture shop near Maruti Kunj in the Bhondsi area. However, they quickly fled the scene after spotting a police team in the vicinity.
In a separate report, Surendra Tanwar, District Vice-President of the VHP, informed that during the violent events in Nuh on Monday, Bajrang Dal activist Pradeep Sharma was attacked by rioters and critically injured. Sharma was initially taken to a hospital in Gurugram, but due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of medical personnel, Sharma did not survive. The police have since confirmed the tragic death of the 32-year-old Bajrang Dal activist.
To assess the escalating situation, Haryana DGP P K PK Agrawal and ADGP CID arrived in Gurugram around noon. Concurrently, a mahapanchayat, or a large community gathering, has been summoned in Manesar to discuss the violent incidents in Nuh.
Tuesday also saw a cleric tragically killed during a late-night assault on a mosque, an eatery set on fire, and shops vandalized as the communal violence that initially started in Haryana’s Nuh extended into neighboring Gurugram.
In response to an attack on a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession in Nuh a day earlier, local residents blocked a road and forced shop closures, while a ‘panchayat’ targeted Muslims. This surge of violence paints a bleak picture, serving as a stark reminder of the devastating impacts of communal discord.