A tenuous peace: Three injured in clashes over religious event

Fight erupted after students from two sects disagreed about holding it in college.

GILGIT: One student and two policemen were injured on Monday after two student groups clashed in Gilgit.

The students had gathered at Government Degree College to mark a religious day when the clash erupted. The police intervened, resorting to aerial firing to disperse the students.

“This was an unfortunate incident in which three people have sustained stone injuries,” said SSP Ali Zia. “Our priority now is to keep the peace in the city,” Zia told The Express Tribune.

According to a student, the fight was sectarian in nature as members of the two factions disagreed about holding an event to commemorate a religious personality. Over the previous week, the college management tried to forge a consensus but failed due to the intransigent behaviour of some of the scholars.

“One group had planned to organise a commemorative event in the college while the other one was against holding it inside the premises,” said a student about the cause of disagreement which led to violence on Monday.

The police avoided making any arrests immediately after the commotion that jeopardized the elusive peace of Gilgit. “Arrests will be made after talking to responsible persons from the groups,” said another policeman responsible for maintaining law in the city.

Following the clash, law-enforcement officials tightened security in the city to prevent any spread of violence.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2014.