The trouble began in Muslim-dominated Khajrana locality, where local shopkeepers resisted the attempts of the VHP and Bajrang Dal activists to enforce the bandh. According to eyewitnesses, the activists returned with policemen, who allegedly forced the shopkeepers to down shutters. The locals refused to fall in line and reportedly stoned the police, who later returned with more personnel.

Two persons were shot dead in the violence that followed, not far from the Khajrana Police Station which was also stoned. Two more deaths, one unconfirmed, took place in Khajrana village.

IG (law and order) Sanjeev Singh confirmed that three persons — Mahboob, Anwar and Khemraj Makhija — were killed in Indore. He said it was not clear if they were killed in police firing or by bullets fired from private arms, adding that a post-mortem would throw light on the nature of injuries. Singh said he was yet to get confirmation about the fourth victim.

Curfew was imposed in Khajrana, Pandhrinath, Chhatripura and Malharganj police stations. The bandh was near total in other areas as activists of Hindu organisations moved around, unchallenged, with the police making no attempts to stop them.

Several persons, including some policemen, were injured as violence broke out in Mukeripura and Bombay Bazar. An additional force of 1,000 police personnel was rushed to Indore in the wake of the clashes. A Reliance Fresh outlet was among several other properties that was targeted.

In Satna, Hirlal Soni, a 28-year-old jeweller, reportedly set himself afire when Hindu activists beat him up and forced him to close his shop in Rampur Baghelan area, about 25 km from the city. Soni has been admitted to the Satna district hospital, where he is reported to be in a critical condition. His brother blamed the attempted suicide on the ill-treatment by the mob.

Satna SP Kamal Singh Rathore said investigations were on to find out the cause of the attempted immolation.

Lawlessness also prevailed in Jhabua, Dewas, Tikamgadh, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Neemuch among other cities where Hindu activists indulged in violence, forcing shopkeepers to down shutters and beating up those who refused to do so. Schools and colleges remained closed because private managements had announced a day’s holiday on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, leader of Opposition Jamuna Devi alleged that Thursday’s violence was a major conspiracy hatched by the BJP and the state Government. She alleged that the police force and the administration colluded with mobs, who openly flaunted arms.

Devi met Governor Balram Jakhar and requested him to recommend dismissal of the state government. “There was sufficient ground for taking such a step because the Government helped in whipping up communal frenzy,” she said.