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Violence mars Ganesh immersion in Nanded; 30 hurt

Thirty persons were injured, including four in police firing, when miscreants pelted stones at a Ganesh immersion procession in the sensitive old city area of Nanded on Tuesday, the last day of the 10-day festival, police said.

The miscreants also indulged in arson, burning 11 shops and two motorcycles, and damaged many other vehicles, including two state transport buses.

Policemen and fire brigade personnel were among those injured, District Collector Shamala Shukla said.

The trouble began when the procession was passing in front of a religious place. Suddenly stones began raining on the processionists from inside, police and eyewitnesses said.

To control the violence, police resorted to a baton-charge, but as the situation threatened to go out of hand, they opened fire, injuring four persons.

Of the four, two were stated to be in critical condition in hospital. Twelve of the injured were admitted to hospital while the rest were discharged after being administered first aid.

The district authorities have summoned two companies of the State Reserve Police from Solapur to beef up security in the wake of the trouble.

The situation was officially described as tense but under control. The immersion procession later passed off peacefully.

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