Prayagraj: A dispute over the route of a Muharram taziya procession turned violent in Anapur village under Nawabganj police station limits late Friday, leaving the Anapur outpost in-charge injured after he was allegedly attacked with bricks and stones. Police have arrested 11 people and registered an FIR against 21 named persons and several unidentified accused. The main accused is reportedly absconding.According to police, the dispute centred on the route of a taziya procession led by a resident, Salim Baba, who has allegedly raised objections over the same issue in previous years. He demanded that a staircase constructed on a portion of the traditional route be demolished before the procession could proceed. However, the other party maintained that the land was privately owned and that the staircase had been constructed legally.Police and revenue officials, including senior officers, held several rounds of discussions with both sides throughout the day in an attempt to resolve the matter. However, no consensus could be reached, following which police personnel were deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.Around midnight, the situation escalated when those present at the spot allegedly began pelting police with stones and bricks. Anapur outpost in-charge Akash Sachan sustained a serious head injury after being struck by a brick and was rushed to the hospital.Police said the disputed passage is around 13 feet wide, while the staircase occupies approximately 2.5 feet, leaving sufficient space for the procession. Officials also claimed that the same route had been used in previous years without objection. An additional police force was rushed to the village to restore order.DCP Ganganagar Kuldeep Singh Gunawat said, “We have registered an FIR in the case and sent 11 individuals to jail. A search is on for the remaining accused.”He added that peace has since been restored in the area.
