Moradabad: Five people, including a former village pradhan, were arrested on Monday for communal clashes that broke out over the decibel level of a loudspeaker installed in a shrine at Chakbegumpur village, under the jurisdiction of the Bhojpur kothwali police station.According to police, as many as 22 people were injured. A video of the rioters atop house terraces pelting stones on those below has gone viral.So far, five people, including a former village pradhan, has been arrested for rioting and sent to jail.Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MLA from Moradabad Dehat Iqram Qureshi accused police of being biased by arresting members of one community only. He said he would raise the matter in the forthcoming assembly session and seek a probe into the matter.Speaking with TOI, SHO, Bhojpur kothwali police station, Ajay Veer Singh said, “The shrine authorities have permission for using a loudspeaker every day two hours in the morning and two in the evening. Members of another community, however, objected to the high volume of the loudspeaker. A family living near the shrine requested that the volume be lowered as a member was ill. When the volume was not decreased, they had called police control room. A sub-inspector also went to the spot and sorted the matter.”But two hours later, clashes erupted at the village with members of both communities pelting stones at one another. The clash started when some youth went inside the shrine to clean it and make arrangements for a ‘jagran’,” said Ajay Veer Singh.Some firing also took place for half an hour after police reached the village, the SHO said.Police have registered an FIR against members of both communities under provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act and under IPC sections 147 (punishment for rioting), (148), 149(punishment for rioting), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), 295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), 307(attempt to murder), 323(punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).Moradabad SSP Ravendra J Gaud said, “Now, the situation is under control and soon all the offenders who have escaped will be arrested and sent to jail. The police will not compromise on law and order issue.”

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