2 killed in clashes during Sant Ravidas Jayanti in Roorkee village; 35 detained

ROORKEE: Sant Ravidas birth anniversary celebrations at a village near Roorkee on Sunday turned bloody after violent clashes erupted between two rival groups of the same community, leaving one person shot in the head and another beaten to death. Police said two separate FIRs were registered against 24 persons on Monday, and "35 suspects detained, till now, for questioning".

Tension flared after two groups took out a procession in Binarsi village under Bhagwanpur police station limits in the afternoon. One was led by Anand Chand. He allegedly entered into a heated exchange with the rival side led by Vishal (only first name available) over an earlier row.

Around 5pm, both groups gathered with supporters again and clashed. At first, they started pelting stones at each other, and things took an ugly turn, when some people started firing and vandalising each other's houses.

During the mayhem, Anand was shot in the head and died on the spot. His brother Vikas and two aides, Gagandeep and Yogendra, suffered bullet injuries. They are currently at a hospital in Roorkee. Anand's supporters, meanwhile, assaulted Mange Ram, 45, from the other group with sticks and sharp-edged objects. His body was later found in the village.

In the first FIR based on a complaint by Mange Ram's son, Jony Kumar, a case was registered against 18 named persons under BNS sections 103 (1) (murder), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 191 (2) and 191 (3) (rioting), 190 (unlawful assembly), 326 (mischief by fire), 333 (house trespass for assault) and 324 (4) (damage to property).

In the second FIR, Anand's father Laxmi Chand filed a complaint, naming six persons. A case was subsequently registered under BNS sections 103 (1), 191(2), 191(3) and 190.

SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal said, "One person from each group died. Questioning of suspects is underway and arrests will be made soon. Additional police force has been deployed as a precautionary measure."