Violence erupted in the sensitive Mukundnagar area of Ahmednagar city on Saturday after a group of people attacked a place of worship in the area on Friday night, in which three women were injured, police said.
The mob attacked the place of worship at 11 p.m. when devotees had gathered there to make preparations for the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations for Saturday, deputy Superintendent Natha Ghule said.
According to a complaint lodged at Bhingar camp police station, the mob carrying swords, acid bulbs and wooden staffs attacked the place of worship, in which three women were injured.
Following the attack, groups of two different communities indulged in heavy stone pelting, police said. Senior police officials along with a platoon of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have rushed to the scene.
Police have arrested three persons and search was on for 60 others involved in the attack, Ghule said. However, the situation is under control, Ghule added.
Meanwhile, local Shiv Sena MLA Anil Rathod has demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the attack. Rathod, who visited the area, also demanded transfer of Assistant Police Inspector and in-charge of Bhingar police station Devidas Kale, for "failing" to handle the situation.
City unit BJP Chief Sunil Ramdasi, condemning the incident, demanded a search of Mukundnagar area for recovering unauthorised arms. Alleging that maulanas from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were inciting communal riots, he said the outsiders should be arrested for their role in the attack.
The by-elections to 10 seats of
the civic body are slated for Sunday.