Violent clash following sexual harassment incident in Bikaner

Jaipur: Tension gripped Pratap Basi area in Bikaner Monday night after an alleged sexual harassment incident triggered a violent clash between two groups. The incident occurred around 11pm, when a verbal altercation quickly escalated into stone-pelting and physical confrontation, with people from both sides arriving armed with sticks and rods. On Tuesday, police registered FIRs from both groups.A video of the incident has surfaced, showing a large number of people running through the locality carrying lathis.Eyewitnesses said trouble began when some youths allegedly misbehaved with a woman.According to the police, when locals objected, an argument broke out, which soon turned violent. "Members from both groups gathered at the spot and started pelting stones at each other, creating panic in the neighbourhood," said an officer.Bikaner SP Mridul Kachachawa, told TOI, "The situation is under control and peaceful. We have got FIRs from both the confronting groups and will take action against those who have disturbed law and order in the area".After the incident, a team from Naya Shahar police station rushed to the spot. SHO Rohit Choudhary said that heavy police force was deployed to bring the situation under control, and patrolling continued throughout the night. "We have identified the miscreants from both the confronting groups and will make arrests soon in this case," he said.Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure to prevent any further escalation and maintain law and order.On Tuesday morning, a large number of locals gathered at the police station demanding immediate arrest of the accused.Meanwhile, functionaries of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and BJP also reached the police station and had heated arguments with the police.