Friday, February 11 2005 12:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Raipur: Raipur: Two Sikh girls eloped with a couple of Hindu boys sparking arson and clashes between members of the two communities in Chattisgarh's Dongargarh town, 110 km from Raipur, prompting imposition of curfew Yesterday (Feb 10, 2005).

A mob had set ablaze half a dozen shops and attacked several people on Wednesday, (Feb 9, 2005) protesting the alleged failure of the police to recover two girls who allegedly eloped with their paramour a few days back, forcing authorities to clamp curfew.

In fresh violence yesterday afternoon when curfew was relaxed, a mob of 30 ransacked two shops belonging to Sikhs.

The missing girls had left a message, recorded in a CD, giving reasons of their leaving home and plan to get married to the local boys with whom they allegedly had an affair for sometime.

The families of the girls lodged complaint with the police against the two boys. But as no clue about the whereabouts of the missing girls was found, the parents, along with their neighbours, gathered in the town Wednesday evening.

A mob laid a siege to the houses of the boys named in the complaint and resorted to rioting attacking local shops and other establishments. The mob raised slogans against local BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) MLA Vinod Khandekar and tried to manhandle him but he took shelter in a hospital.

Considering the gravity of the situation, curfew was imposed on Wednesday evening. Forty people were arrested yesterday in connection with the incidents.