Indian authorities have strengthened security measures and deployed hundreds of riot police officers after violence erupted in eight states during the Hindu religious festival Ram Navami. Mobile internet services have been suspended in several districts. 77 people have been arrested in connection with the violent acts.

The unrest took place after Hindus marched across Muslim-dominated areas. Several groups of worshippers attacked villages and set fire to homes and businesses. According to the Indian police, a minor was shot dead in the town of Bihar Sharif on April 1.

Al Jazeera reported that religious processions have turned violent over the past few years, with people rallying through Muslim neighbourhoods and playing hate-filled music.

The footage features dramatic images of a madrasa vandalised by an armed mob on March 31. 1,000 people set fire to its 110-year-old library. Over 4,500 books were reduced to ashes.

Mohammad Siyabuddin, the mosque imam, recalled those terrible moments:

“We had just finished Friday prayers when the violence erupted at Gagan Diwan locality near Hotel City Palace. The mob started hurling stones. They threw petrol bombs into the mosque and the library and set vehicles on fire. Two children were trapped in a room filled with smoke. If I had not reached there on time, we would have lost them".

Seventy-seven people were arrested in connection with the violence that erupted in northern India's Bihar during Ram Navami.


The incident took place near Gagan diwan locality at Bihar Sharif in Nalanda district on March 31.


Visuals showed the books in the library were burnt to ashes. Rioters were making a ruckus in full swing. The local people living there looked very scared


Prohibitory orders have been imposed under Section 144 of the CrPC in the area. Internet services have been suspended in the district and the ban is expected to be in place for the next 48 hours. One person died in fresh violence on Saturday evening, the police said.


“So far, 77 people have been arrested and 12 FIRs lodged. A flag march was conducted to maintain peace in the area. Adequate paramilitary personnel have been deployed to control the situation,” said Nalanda Superintendent of Police Ashok Mishra.


The police said Gulshan Kumar succumbed to bullet injuries, while another seriously injured person is undergoing treatment in the State capital, Patna. People have been advised to stay indoors.


An armed mob of around 1,000 people vandalised a madrasa in Bihar Sharif’s Murarpur locality and set fire to its library, said Mohammad Siyabuddin, the imam of the mosque and caretaker of the madrasa. The 110-year-old library with a collection of over 4,500 books was reduced to ashes in the attack, he said.


The mosque’s minar (tower) was damaged and the district administration is carrying out repairs. “We had just finished Friday prayers when violence erupted at Gagan Diwan locality near Hotel City Palace. A mob then entered the madrasa and started hurling stones. A member of the mosque’s peace committee threatened to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. They threw petrol bombs into the mosque and the library, and set vehicles parked on the premises on fire,” Mr. Siyabuddin said.


The police did not reach the spot till 11 p.m. even though the attack took place in the afternoon, he added.


“Two children were trapped in a room filled with smoke. If I had not reached there on time, we would have lost them,” Mr. Siyabuddin said.