NEW DELHI: Tensions ran high in Haryana and its neighbouring states on Wednesday, with riot police patrolling neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the Indian capital as authorities issued prohibitory orders across the Nuh district, banning the sale of loose petrol or diesel in the aftermath of two days of communal violence that saw several shops, shanties and a mosque set ablaze.

The death toll climbed to six on the third day of clashes between Hindus and Muslims, while internet services also remained shut in four tehsils of Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district, NDTV quoted officials as saying.

Arson and vandalism attacks had earlier broken out in parts of Gurugram, a satellite city of the capital and a key business centre where Nokia, Samsung and other multinationals have their headquarters.

One neighbourhood saw a mob of around 200 people armed with sticks and stones loot several meat shops and set fire to a restaurant while chanting Hindu religious slogans.

Death toll rises to six; chief minister says 116 in custody; riot police patrol Gurugram

Haryana state chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said six people had been killed in the violence and 116 arrested so far.

“Those found guilty will not be spared. We are committed to the safety of the public,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

Two of the dead were security personnel on their way to help contain the unrest in Nuh, state police said Tuesday.

Local media reports said tensions first flared after prominent Hindu nationalist activist Monu Manesar, a member of the radical right-wing group Bajrang Dal, announced he would attend Monday’s procession in Nuh.

Manesar is wanted by police over accusations that he was responsible for the lynching of two Muslim cattle traders in another part of Haryana state.

The alleged vigilante leader regularly posts videos celebrating attacks on Muslims accused of transporting or killing cows, which are considered sacred by Hindus.

Police said Manesar was evading arrest and ultimately did not join the procession.

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, India has seen numerous outbreaks of violence between majority Hindus and its 200-million-strong Muslim minority.

Critics accuse the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party of marginalising the Muslim community since coming to power.

Separately, Congress leader Kapil Sibal criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and attributed the violent incidents to their “politics of hate”.

Also, Sitaram Yechury, a leader of the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) expressed his condemnation of the communal violence in Haryana. In a tweet, Yechury stated, “Strongly condemn the communal violence in Mewat, Haryana. The state government must stop patronising private hate armies & punish the culprits.”

He wrote, “The recent violent incidents in different pockets of the country are a direct result of the BJP’s politics of hate.”

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2023