28, Sep 2015

“Three people – all Muslims – were arrested after they were named in the FIR, but we prima facie think they were not involved. Investigation is ongoing,” said SP.
Written by Deepu Sebastian Edmond | Ranchi | Updated: September 28, 2015 3:57 am
Police are looking into the possibility of deliberate and organised attempts being mounted to disrupt communal harmony in Jharkhand — and thereby influence the polls in neighbouring Bihar — after meat was found outside four temples in the past 48 hours.
The first incident, in Ranchi late on Friday, had triggered violence that shut down the capital on Saturday. Subsequently, meat has been found outside temples in Lohardaga, Palamu and Chatra districts.
While Palamu and Chatra share long borders with Bihar, Ranchi and Lohardaga are closer to West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.
At Lohardaga, meat was found outside a Durga temple in the Lawagai village within Kudu police station limits on Saturday morning. “Three people — all Muslims — were arrested after they were named in the FIR, but prima facie we think they were not involved. The investigation is ongoing,” said SP Manoj Ratan Chothe.
A bandh was subsequently called on Sunday by an organisation called the Shri Ram Samiti and the Bajrang Dal. “There was some tension in the village and Lohardaga town, but we managed to contain it by heavy deployment,” said SP Chothe. About 60 people were detained and later released on personal bail.