AURANGABAD: As many as 15 people were allegedly injured with sharp-edged weapons when clashes broke out between two groups, with one group being led by an office-bearer from AIMIM, over a petty issue in Hussain Colony on late Saturday night.Those who have sustained injuries have been admitted in different hospitals including the Government Medical College and Hospital. The condition of one of them, who sustained head injuries, allegedly with a sword, is said to be critical.No sooner did they receive information about the incident than senior officers, including deputy commissioner of police (zone-II) Rahul Khade, rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.Both the groups lodged complaints against each other on Sunday morning based on which suspects have been booked for attempt to murder, unlawful assembly, rioting, voluntarily causing hurt and voluntarily causing grievous hurt. In addition, relevant sections of the Arms Act have also been slapped against the suspects.Police said that based on the complaint lodged by the AIMIM office-bearer, 11 suspects, including two women, have been booked. Based on the complaint registered by a member of the rival group, 17 suspects have been booked.Inspector at Pundaliknagar police station Ghanshyam Sonawane said, “We have arrested two accused from both the sides. The majority of the accused are either on the run or undergoing treatment at the hospitals.”While the MIM office-bearer and eight members of his group sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at private hospitals, half a dozen members from the rival group were injured.Police suspect that the five-year-old political rivalry spiralled out of control following an argument over a monetary issue. During the last civic body elections, the AIMIM office bearer had lost by a small margin to his political rival. Since then, frequent clashes have erupted between the two groups.As per the complaint lodged by the member of the rival group, he had been demanding outstanding dues to the tune of Rs 70, 000 – Rs 75, 000 for the construction work he did for a member of the group led by the MIM office-bearer. The demand soon turned into a heated argument, following which a complaint was lodged at Pundaliknagar police station on Saturday. Accordingly, a non-cognizable offence was registered against the MIM office-bearer.Seething with anger, the MIM office-bearer, along with his supporters, reached the house of the person who demanded the money and attacked him and his family members. They also allegedly tried to set the house on fire in which the curtains and some petty articles were burnt.Eye-witnesses said that the group led by the MIM leader diverted its attention to the house of the latter’s political rival, situated at a distance, and attacked the inmates of the house. The clash took a bitter turn with members from both sides sustaining cuts and bruises from sharp-edged weapons.

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