2 Killed, 7 Cops Injured In Violence During Religious Procession

Two home guards were shot dead and seven policemen injured as a mob tried to stop a religious procession, throwing stones and setting cars on fire in Haryana. The police used teargas and fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd.

Internet services have been suspended and prohibitory orders banning large gatherings have been issued.

The police, meanwhile, have rescued nearly 2,500 men, women and children who had taken shelter at a temple near Gurugram due to the violence outside. The people who were stranded at the Nulhar Mahadev temple had come to take part in the religious procession.

The violence started during a religious procession in Nuh, adjoining Gurugram. The Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra, being held by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, was stopped by a group of young men on the Gurugram-Alwar National Highway and stones were thrown at the procession.

As the violence escalated, government and private vehicles were targeted by the mob.

Towards evening, violence spread to the Gurugram-Sohna highway where several cars were torched and stones were thrown at the police, sources said.

Reports say the clash was triggered by an objectionable video posted on social media by a Bajrang Dal activist.

Sources said Bajrang Dal member Monu Manesar and his associates – suspect in several criminal cases — had circulated the video a few days ago and openly challenged that he would stay in Mewat during the yatra.