Gumla Saraswati Idol Immersion Clash: Multiple Injured in Lohardaga Village

Gumla:Around half a dozen people were injured on Sunday morning in a violent clash between two communities during the immersion of a Saraswati idol at Badih village in Lohardaga district. Of the injured, two were allegedly critical and referred to Rims in Ranchi. The rest were released after primary treatment, police said. A large contingent of police personnel, led by SP Sadique Anwar Rizvi, is camping at the tension-ridden village. Lohardaga SDO Amit Kumar, SDPO Shradha Kerketta, DSP Sameer Tirkey, and other officers also rushed to the spot.The officers said the situation was under control by evening, but the area still has a heavy deployment of police.Tension first erupted in the village on Saturday evening when a vehicle carrying the idol for immersion brushed against a thatched house. Following the incident, the house owner allegedly assaulted the driver. Both the house owner and the driver belong to the minority community. Members of the other community, who were part of the procession, protested, leading to a clash. The matter was later resolved with the intervention of local village leaders. On Sunday morning, tensions flared up again, leading to heavy stone pelting. SP Rizvi said, “We held a peace committee meeting in the village. The situation is under control now. Two people injured in the clash are recovering at Rims. Some others sustained only mild injuries.”