Varanasi violence: Rajnath takes stock of situation; schools, colleges to remain closed on Tuesday

Varanasi: Curfew has been lifted from all areas of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituiency Varanasi on Monday night hours after clashes erupted here between seers, who held a demonstration, and the cops. Twelve people, including 8 policemen, were injured in the widespread violence and arson.

However, all schools and colleges would remain closed in the city tomorrow, as per ANI.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh took stock of the situation. He also spoke to Varanasi SSP and has asked him to ensure peace. Additional Police force were also deployed in the region.

According to PTI, 29 people were arrested in connection with the incidents of stone-pelting and setting ablaze of a police booth here.

The curfew was imposed in four police station areas here after hundreds and thousands of saints and Hindu religious groups took out a 'Pratikar Yatra' earlier in the day today to protests against police action on September 22 on a religious procession during the immersion of Ganesha idols.

The violence erupted around 3.30 pm today when the yatra, taken out from town hall park, was just 100 metres away from Godowlia intersection on way to its culmination point at the Dashashwamedh Ghat.

When the march reached a key crossing in the city, there was stone pelting incident between the police and protesters, who allegedly burnt vehicles. The police also used batons again.

The stone-pelting triggered a minor stampede. The mob even damaged a fire-tender which reached the Godowlia intersection to douse the flames at the police booth there.