Nashik: Four women were injured after an argument over the route of a Ganapati immersion procession escalated to stone-pelting in Raver town of Jalgaon on Monday.




The clash broke out around 3.30pm in Dr Ambedkar Nagar after some residents allegedly stopped a group of boys from taking a household Ganapati idol through a residential lane for immersion.




Police immediately went to the spot and brought the situation under control within minutes. A case has been registered against eight to 10 people for rioting and under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police are searching for those who fled after the clash.




Inspector Sandeep Patil said the dispute began over the immersion route. “A group of boys from the SC community was carrying a household Ganpati idol for immersion through a local lane when another group objected to their route. This triggered an argument, which quickly escalated,” Patil said.




Both groups are from the same neighbourhood. As the argument intensified, members of the two sides allegedly began pelting stones. Four women suffered minor injuries.

“A police team reached the spot within five minutes of receiving information and managed to bring the situation under control within 10 minutes,” Patil said.




Police have stepped up security in the area to prevent any further flare-up. Teams have also been deployed to identify and trace those involved in the stone-pelting.




Patil appealed to residents to remain calm and not pay heed to rumours.




He said Ganeshotsav celebrations elsewhere under Raver police station limits were continuing peacefully. Police personnel have been deployed at key locations to ensure the festivities and immersion processions remain peaceful.