On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, a dispute erupted between the Muslim and Hindu populations in the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand over the installation of loudspeakers and decorations for Maha Sivaratri. Several shops were set on fire during the violent altercation that followed stone-throwing from both sides. Numerous cars, including four motorcycles, an automobile, and a sedan, were also set on fire.
Several individuals were hurt in the Wednesday morning event that happened in Dumroan village, which is under the Ichak police station jurisdiction. For medical attention, those who were hurt were taken right away to Hazaribagh Sadar Hospital. Three police stations sent officers to the scene as soon as they heard about the event, and they used lathicharges to break up the throng.
The police claim that Muslims demonstrated against the installation of sound equipment and the repair of the Maha Sivaratri flags at Hindustan Chowk. The dispute between the two groups escalated into violence, and stone-throwing began from a nearby madrasa. Hindus also threw stones at them in retaliation. Trainee IPS Shruti Agarwal said, “We have requested people to maintain peace on the occasion of Maha Sivaratri and celebrate the festival with brotherhood.”
Nancy Sahay, the deputy commissioner for Hazaribagh, claimed that sufficient troops had been sent in to keep the village peaceful. “At present the situation is under control and police are camping on the spot. Appropriate action would be taken and those responsible for the violence would be punished as per law,” Ms. Sahay told the press.
Sanjay Seth, a BJP leader and Union Minister and Ranchi MP, attacked the Hemant Soren administration for the intercommunal violence. Reacting to the incident of communal clash Mr. Seth said, “This is condemnable and painful. The government should be strict with such people. Violence breaks out during idol immersion on Saraswati Puja, during Ramnavami, Holi, and Sivaratri. Today is Maha Sivaratri and who are these people who want to take away the peace from the society? In the country, violence does not break out anywhere but it always happens in Jharkhand.”
He further said, “Such incidents happen in Jharkhand because Bangladeshi infiltrators are destroying the demography and law and order of the State. You see, wherever there is a BJP-NDA government, be it Delhi, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh – Bangladeshi infiltrators are identified and driven out.” Mr. Seth advised the chief minister of Jharkhand to take the required steps against infiltrators from Bangladesh in order to bolster peace and order. They are stealing tribal people’s rights, he continued.
