3 injured in sectarian clash in Godhra

KARACHI: Three people were injured in clashes between Deoband and Barelvi sects in Godhra, New Karachi, on Thursday.

According to the police, clashes began when four members of Sunni Tehreek, Abdullah, Muslim, Faisal and Farrukh, got into a fight with a young man, Bilal, who received bullet wounds as these men opened fire at him.

Later, members of both groups started firing in the area and blocked the main road by pelting stones at passing vehicles. There was a massive traffic jam in New Karachi and the roads leading to it. During the clashes, intense firing was reported and at least three members of both groups were injured and taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. They were identified as Ameen, 18, Abu Bakar, 15 and Farooq, 22.

The clashes took place near Rehmania Masjid located in the Godhra locality within the jurisdiction of New Karachi Industrial Area police station. Unidentified men also torched at least seven shops and two houses while the fire brigade was also attacked as it made its way to the burnt shops. The firemen returned to their offices and refused to go to the site without police protection.

Sunni Tehreek spokesperson Fahimuddin Sheikh blamed the Sipah-e-Sahaba for the clashes. He said that miscreants, working under the name of Ahle-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), attacked the people of the Barelvi sect and torched properties of the Barelvis.

Sheikh estimated that at least 24 shops and seven houses, including their sector office, were torched by these miscreants. He warned that if the authorities do not take action against the miscreants then they would punish the culprits by themselves.

On the other hand, the ASWJ spokesperson Ehsanullah Farooqui said that they do not have any links to the incident and that the fight was purely between Deoband and Barelvi sects. “We are not supporting the Deobands but it is a conspiracy against ASWJ,” Farooqui said.

A heavy contingent of police and Rangers reached the site and managed to enter the area after struggling for at least four hours. It was reported that the peshimam of the Rehmania Masjid was arrested but later released following a protest by residents. Eight people have been arrested, said officials.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2010.