Imam killed in attack on Gurugram mosque, Haryana violence toll rises to five

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: Five persons were killed and over 50 others injured in Haryana, including a cleric and a couple of policemen, after communal clashes in Nuh and Gurugram that began on Monday. In Gurugram, a mosque was set on fire and its cleric was murdered by a mob past midnight.

Five persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the arson attack on the Anjuman Jama mosque in Sector 57 of Gurugram. The dead cleric was identified as Maulana Saad (26). Sources in the Gurugram Police said the mob reached the mosque past midnight, opened fire on its inmates and set it ablaze. The cleric succumbed to his injuries after being admitted to a local hospital.

Apart from Sector 57, there were reports of sporadic violence at various locations in Gurugram throughout the day. In the afternoon, a mob set an eatery on fire and vandalised adjoining shops in Badshahpur. Reports said the mob specifically targeted shops of a particular community, ransacked them and chanted religious slogans.

There were also reports of some shanties being set on fire on Kadarpur Road, but there was no official confirmation. In Sector 66, several eateries and scrap shops were either ransacked or set on fire. Besides, some meat shops were vandalised near Pataudi Chowk.

The overall situation in Gurugram remained tense.

Earlier in the day, peace committee meetings were held in Nuh and Gurugram’s Sohna town where senior members of both communities were asked to help identify the accused and restore social harmony. In all, about 70 people have been detained and 44 cases registered so far. As many as 125 private vehicles, eight police vehicles and three emergency vehicles were set afire during the clashes.