Comunal tension in Gujarat after priest kills one of the mob that attacked temple

Communal tension gripped Nadiad town in Gujarat’s Kheda district after a former councillor succumbed to bullet injuries Saturday morning at a hospital in Anand town where he was being treated after being shot by the priest of a temple.

The priest allegedly fired at victim Sajid Vora in self-defence when the temple where he lived with his family was attacked by a mob late Friday night.

Vora, an ex-councillor of Marida locality in Nadiad, was leading the mob that pelted stones at Dalaram Bapa temple situated in the same Muslim-dominated locality. The incident took place at around 2 am Friday, police said.

Cross FIRs were filed at Nadiad police station following the incident. According to an FIR filed by one Mohammad Imran, Vora had altercation with Ashok Bhuria over parking of his Activa after which he took out his gun and fired at him.

A cross-FIR filed by one Girish Giri stated that a mob of around fifty persons gathered outside the temple at around 2 am and started pelting stones, following which the accused fired from his .12 bore licenced gun in self-defence.

The bullet hit Vora in the chest. He was rushed to a hospital in Anand town where he died during treatment on Saturday morning. Kheda SP Sachin Badshah said the police were being deployed in the locality to maintain law and order as the body of the victim was being brought from Anand hospital where he died. No person was yet arrested in this connection.

Badshah said people of two communities clashed over an old matter, with the priest Giri firing from his licenced gun in self-defence when a mob of around fifty persons started pelting stones at the temple where he lived.

“The incident took place in a Muslim dominated locality following some altercation over motorcycle. We are yet to get the exact detail about the reason behind the attack on the temple. But the locals in the area, which is Muslim-dominated, had in the past fought with the priest and their family members who live in the temple. The gun was fired in self-defence,” Badshah said.

Source:: Indian Express