By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Jaipur: Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh district is in the grip of communal riots after Uttar Pradesh’ Muzaffarnagar district. Curfew has been clamped in the area, but situation is still tense.

What began allegedly as skirmish between two groups of young boys late Tuesday night (January 14) in Kotadi village in Arnod tehsil, soon turned into communal clashes, leading to death of three persons, and injuring over 6.

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According to locals, tension was ripe for over 3-4 months allegedly over eve-teasing and late Tuesday night, as the skirmish began between two groups, twenty-one-year-old Raja Khan was stabbed to death.

As the news of his death spread, soon about 100 people from both communities gathered at the bus-stand. Local Pathans – who are also dominant in some of the villages – in rage started gathering, some armed. Some of them who were coming on bike, allegedly opened fire on the way in village Moheda. About six persons are reported to have injured, who were admitted first at Kota and later shifted to Udaipur Hospital. Bhanwar Singh (50) and Dinesh Kumar (25) succumbed to bullet injuries later in the hospital.

Meanwhile, local RSS cadres are believed to have got their acts together as rumour mills started spreading messages that Muslims have gone on rampage killing hundreds of Hindus. Jawahar Singh, member of the Rajasthan Unit of Public Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), who is from Pratapgarh confirmed that the local cadres went on rampage late Tuesday night, burning at least 18 houses of Muslims in Kotadi village alone.

Next day, on Wednesday as police was deployed in the five neighboring Muslim dominated villages of Kotadi, Sakadia, etc under Arnod police station, several houses and crops belonging to Muslims in Dorana village were set on fire. In Dalaut market, about 10-15 shops and a TVS showroom belonging to the minority community were also set on fire. About 10-15 houses are reported to be burnt under Salamgarh police station.

There are reports of some Hindu houses also set ablaze.

Jawahar Singh clearly alleged the RSS hands on the rampage. Khan Shaed Khan, a local Congress leader and President of Pratapgarh Muslim Samaj – Anjuman Furqani – also accused the local RSS cadres of spreading rumors and engaging in rioting and arson.

Although not confirmed yet, there are reports of some arson and skirmish on Thursday as well.

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje has meanwhile condemned the incident as unfortunate. She has appealed to the villagers to not pay attention to rumors.

According to police, six miscreants have been identified and they maybe arrested soon.

The government has also announced a compensation of Rs5 lakh to the family members of the deceased, while BJP has announced a separate Rs 1 to the kins of deceased.