On Saturday, the situation worsened after right wing Hindu groups including Bajrang Dal, Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad, among others, had called for a bandh which had the backing of the BJP. But, SP Pankaj Raj downplayed the entire incident and told the media, the law and order situation was under control.
However, sources from the town informed that the situation worsened on Saturday after groups belonging to two communities tried to attack the places of worship and set them on fire. The two groups clashed with each other forcing the police to intervene. The mob also set fire to several shops and incidents of looting have also been reported from the town. To disperse the unruly mob, the police fired several rounds in the air and lobbed tear gas shells.
It was reported that two local mosques were damaged by petrol bomb in Sahebganj and Sahja Mathia; many shops of Muslim community were looted as alleged.
Two people have been arrested by the police for instigating unrest in the region in Saran district.
Police force, along with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, has set up a camp in the region to control the growing agitation, an officer confirmed the news. It is being reported that the social media post might have had something to do with religion.
After the provocative anti-Hindu video went viral on social media, authorities temporarily banned internet services in the area such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. All the other governmental facilities will continue uninterrupted.
Senior police officers from Patna, including Deputy Inspector General of Police and Zonal IG, are camping in the town to ensure all measures are being taken to bring the law and order situation under control.