Two groups clash during Maharana Pratap Jayanti procession in Hamirpur village

Kanpur: Violence erupted during a procession celebrating Maharana Pratap's birth anniversary when two groups of differnet communities clashed over some dispute and resorted to stone pelting Sijwahi village, under Maudaha police station jurisdiction, Hamirpur district on Friday. The SDM along with police force had to intervene to control the situation.

The procession, taken out by Thakur community from Chandikala, Sisolar police station area, reached Sijwahi when the people of Scheduled Caste community had a disagreement over DJ music. The incident took a violent turn when both the groups started pelting stones injuring many people.

During the chaos, Dr Ambedkar's statue was vandalised and the situation intensified over allegations of causing damage to the statue. Murli (70), Maiyadin (70), Kusum Kali (50), and Leelavati (65) sustained serious injuries.

Officials including additional district magistrate, ASP Manoj Kumar Gupta, SDM Raj Kumar Gupta, CO Vinita Pahal, Naib Tehsildar Mahendra Gupta, and Kotwali In-charge Umesh Kumar Singh arrived at the scene with substantial police reinforcements.

ASP Manoj Gupta reported, "As the procession passed through a settlement, the residents protested against the songs being played on the DJ, leading to a dispute and a physical altercation. Some people sustained injuries and were sent to the CHC Maudaha for treatment. Police forces have been deployed in the village."