Bhilwara: Communal tensions flared Saturday in Jahazpur town of Bhilwara district after a minor car collision with a vegetable vendor’s cart led to violence in which a young man was beaten to death the previous night.A key temple event was postponed Saturday and permissions for weekend Muharram processions revoked after threats from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal not to allow any such events in this area of the BJP-governed state. Police deployments were stepped up and markets in Jahazpur town were shut Saturday.The trouble began when Sitaram Keer (25) was headed to Jahazpur with three others in a car. Their vehicle lost control and struck a cart belonging to Sharif Mohammad, a local vegetable vendor. Tonk resident Keer was dragged out of the car and lynched by a mob of vegetable vendors and other locals, said police.VHP, Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organisations staged protests outside Jahazpur police station demanding immediate arrests. Police registered a murder case against 15 people and detained three youths for questioning.The protesters refused to allow post-mortem until their demands, including compensation and a job for Keer’s family, were met. Jahazpur BJP MLA Gopichand Meena echoed the protesters, saying Muharram processions would not be allowed to proceed until the accused were arrested and compensation was provided to the victim’s family.On Saturday, an agreement was reached between the protesters and the authorities for compensation of Rs 22 lakh, a contractual job for a member of Keer’s family and an undertaking from the police to promptly arrest the accused. The post-mortem was done Saturday and Keer’s body handed over to his family, officials said.“We are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning several individuals. Three youths have been detained,” Bhilwara SP Dharmendra Singh Yadav said, appealing for peace in the region.In spite of the agreement, the atmosphere remained surcharged. A ceremony at Jahazpur Fort honouring local deity Lord Peetambar Rai Maharaj, scheduled after a 10-month interval, was indefinitely postponed. VHP demanded suspension of Muharram processions across Bhilwara district. “The brutal killing of the Hindu youth has caused immense anger in the community,” said local VHP functionary Vijay Ojha.Local authorities said they continued to monitor the situation closely to prevent any further escalation of tensions in the area.
