Rajasthan forms panel to probe communal clash

The Rajasthan government on Thursday formed an inquiry committee to probe Wednesday's communal clash in Bharatpur district in which six persons were killed and more than 12 injured.

VS Singh, additional chief secretary, forest and environment, will head the inquiry committee.

The government also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

The clash had erupted at Gopalgarh village, nearly 240 km east of Jaipur, between the Mev and Gurjar communities over portion of a pond land which was converted into a graveyard in revenue records by a patwari (revenue official) a few months ago.

On Wednesday, the court of local sub-divisional magistrate ruled in favour of the Mevs, who started filling the pond to level it for establishing a graveyard. This led to escalation of tension and a meeting of both communities was arranged. But tempers rose and members of the Gurjar community allegedly fired at the Mevs, forcing the police to resort to firing to control the violence.

The state authorities confirmed three unidentified persons were killed from gunshots, two were found dead in a well, and one died of injuries inflicted with a sharp-edged weapon.

PK Deb, additional chief secretary, home, said it was not clear whether the deaths were from police firing or from shots fired by members of the Gurjar community.

State home minister Shanti Dhariwal said, "There would have been more casualties had the police not intervened and fired to disperse the mob."

An eerie silence has gripped Gopalgarh and surrounding villages and the area resembles a police cantonment. Curfew was imposed on Wednesday night in eight police stations under Kaman tehsil. "The provision would remain in effect till 6pm on Friday," said Deb.