Buldhana, February 23 Police have arrested 23 people and imposed prohibitory orders banning gatherings in a village in Buldhana district, Maharashtra, after two groups clashed over the installation of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, police said on Monday.
Buldhana Superintendent of Police Nilesh Tambe said that supporters of two local leaders attacked each other in Chikhla Kakad village in Lonar taluka on February 20 over the installation of a statue of the Maratha king on the Gram Panchayat grounds.
According to sources, a dispute over who would install the statue escalated into violence, and there was a fresh flare-up on Sunday.
Tambe, in a video statement, said that police have arrested 23 people in connection with the violence and on Sunday evening invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), banning gatherings.
Police have appealed to people to avoid rumours and fake news circulating on social media.
