Violent Clashes Erupt in Hazaribagh During Ram Navami Procession

Violent clashes broke out in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district late Tuesday night, March 25, during a Mangala Julus procession marking Ram Navami celebrations near Jhanda Chowk in the Sadar police station area.

The unrest flared when one group playing songs during the procession faced objections from another, leading to a scuffle, stone-pelting, and vandalism near Jama Masjid, according to police and local sources.

Reports indicate that tensions escalated as the procession passed through a sensitive area, with allegations of “objectionable slogans” sparking the confrontation. The situation spiraled into chaos, prompting police to intervene with tear gas and aerial firing to disperse the crowd. “A scuffle and mild stone-pelting took place between two groups,” an official told ANI, adding that the situation was eventually brought under control.

Posts on X, including from News18 Jharkhand and SouleFacts, claimed the violence involved a “Muslim side” targeting the procession, though official statements have not specified community involvement.

The clash left several injured, with visuals on social media showing damaged property and a tense atmosphere. Hazaribagh authorities deployed additional forces to maintain order, and senior officers remain stationed at the site.

“The situation is now under control and peaceful,” a police official assured, appealing for calm as investigations continue.

This incident follows a pattern of unrest in Hazaribagh, with a February 2025 clash over Shivratri decorations also turning violent. The latest flare-up, tied to religious festivities, underscores simmering communal tensions in the region, drawing scrutiny as Ram Navami approaches on March 27.

Further details on casualties and arrests are awaited as police probe the trigger behind the overnight violence.