Tension gripped Chomu town in Rajasthan’s Jaipur district following a dispute over the installation of iron railings outside a mosque, leading to violence that left six policemen injured. The incident, which involved stone-pelting and clashes with the police, prompted authorities to impose a 24-hour shutdown on WhatsApp and social media services to prevent rumors and maintain law and order. The confrontation occurred near the main bus stand in Chomu during the early hours of Friday.
A police team responding to the situation was reportedly attacked by rioters who hurled stones, resulting in injuries to six policemen who were later hospitalized in stable condition. Police resorted to a lathi-charge and fired tear gas shells to control the unrest, converting the area into a high-security zone with heavy police presence. Although the situation is currently deemed under control, tension lingers, prompting a significant deployment of police forces from various stations in Chomu.
The unrest stemmed from a traffic management operation that removed stones lying in front of the mosque at the Chomu bus stand with the consent of the Muslim community. Subsequent installation of iron girders and railings at the same location reignited tensions, leading to negotiations between the police and community representatives. Despite an initial agreement to maintain the status quo, the removal of the girders by the police later sparked stone-pelting incidents.
In response to the escalating situation, Divisional Commissioner Poonam, acting on the Police Commissioner’s recommendation, ordered a 24-hour suspension of social media, WhatsApp, and bulk message services in Chomu to prevent misinformation dissemination. Senior officers, including Additional Police Commissioner Dr. Rajiv Pachar, DCP West Hanuman Prasad, and Additional DCP Rajesh Gupta, arrived in Chomu to urge residents to uphold peace. Investigations are ongoing to identify and take legal action against those involved in the violence.
