Chhapra on fire after Objectionable video goes viral

Chhapra town in Bihar is witnessing communal tensions after an "objectionable video" went viral on Facebook and Whatsapp. Citing the deteriorating law and order situation, Section 144 was imposed in the Saran district and the administration has requested for a unit of para military force to be immediately dispatched to the violence affected area.

On Saturday, the situation worsened after right wing groups including Bajrang Dal, Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad, among others, had called for a bandh which had the backing of the BJP. Catch spoke to SP Pankaj Raj who downplayed the entire incident and said that the law and order situation is under control.

However, sources from the town informed that the situation worsened on Saturday after groups belonging to two communities attacked places of worship and set them on fire. The two groups clashed with each other forcing the police to intervene. The mob also set fire to several shops and incidents of looting have also been reported from the town. To disperse the unruly mob, the police fired several rounds in the air and lobbed tear gas shells.

Senior police officers from Patna, including Deputy Inspector General of Police and Zonal IG, are camping in the town to ensure all measures are being taken to bring the law and order situation under control.

On Friday, violence was reported from Maker block, 40 kilometers from Chhapra, after someone uploaded the objectionable video leading to skirmishes between the two communities. Two persons have been arrested and are being questioned by the police who has requested the people to maintain calm. As a precautionary measure, internet services have been blocked in the district.