The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: Days after communal clashes broke out in Haryana’s Nuh, Superintendent of Police (SP) Varun Singla, who was on leave when the violence began, has been transferred to Bhiwani district, NDTV reported.
Singla has been replaced by IPS officer Narendra Bijarniya who has previously headed Nuh’s police force. Biijarniya was brought in as acting SP in Singla’s absence when the violence began during a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal rally on Monday, July 31. Permanent orders have now been issued for his appointment as SP amid “intense communal tension” in the area, the NDTV report said.
Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the clashes over an attempt to stop a VHP procession. Unruly mobs set fire to several vehicles, food joints, and shops in the area.
Also read: Haryana Violence: How Provocative Videos and a Background of Hate Preceded the Nuh Riots
“Mewat is known for its composite culture and brotherhood. This violence has been instigated by some people through social media. A grand religious procession used to go through ancient temples here, this is the first time it has seen violence. Some troublemakers caused it through social media posts,” Bijarniya told NDTV.
Meanwhile, a top Haryana government official on Thursday, August 3 said anyone found responsible for the communal clashes will not be spared and claimed that the situation is fast returning to normal in the state, the Indian Express reported.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) T.V.S.N. Prasad said a centre of the Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) anti-riot unit will soon be set up in Nuh, the Indian Express report said.
On how the police were caught off-guard even when social media was rife with provocative videos about Bajrang Dal leader Monu Manesar coming to Nuh for the procession, Bijarniya said they had never imagined that such large-scale violence could happen in the area, the NDTV reported.
“We have been monitoring social media, and the district police had made arrangements accordingly. We never imagined such large scale violence could happen. There have been shortcomings, no doubt, that’s why the violence happened. Top officials are investigating it now to ensure this doesn’t happen anywhere again,” he said, adding that according to their records, Manesar didn’t visit Nuh, and the violence started because of rumours on social media.
Manesar is wanted over his alleged role in the killing of two Muslim men earlier this year.
The Haryana government on Wednesday sought four more companies of central forces as arson and vandalism continued in Gurugram and a Bajrang Dal activist died in hospital, the report said.
A Hindutva mob also vandalised shops and houses belonging to Muslim migrant workers in Guruguram’s Badshahpur on Tuesday.
Also read: ‘I Was Scared, Didn’t Take a Chance’: Muslim Workers Flee After Violence in Gurugram’s Badshahpur
In addition to the state police, 20 companies of central forces have been deployed in Haryana – 14 in Nuh, three in Palwal, two in Gurugram and one in Faridabad, the report said. Nearly 176 people have been arrested and over 90 detained in the state so far while 41 cases have been registered.
Haryana government had suspended mobile internet and SMS services in Nuh on Monday and later imposed the restrictions in some other areas till August 2 in view of the “intense communal tension” and disturbance of public peace. The order was later extended till August 5. The internet will be temporarily restored today from 12 pm to 3 pm in affected areas, the report said.