Saharanpur:
Curfew has been relaxed for a few hours today in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where three people were killed and 24 injured in riots on Saturday. Local BJP and Congress leaders have accused each other for instigating mobs.
Following are the latest developments:
Saharanpur remains tense as curfew is being relaxed in phases today - 10 am to 2 pm in the new city area, which has a large Sikh population and 3 pm to 7 pm in the old city, dominated by Muslims. Shops are open during those hours. Schools will stay closed till Wednesday.
38 people have been arrested and nine first information reports or FIRs have been registered at various police stations, among them one against Moharram Ali Pappu, a former corporation councillor. He has been charged with rioting, arson and conspiracy.
Raghav Lakhan Pal, the BJP MP from Saharanpur has also demanded that a local Congress leader Imran Masood be booked for allegedly provoking and instigating the crowd.
Imran Masood said he had been trying his utmost to calm rioting mobs and has accused Mr Pal of "spreading politics of hate."
The police said they are investigating to see if there was political intent behind the clashes or if any other politicians were involved. In by-elections due next month, 12 Lok Sabha seats, which were all won by the BJP earlier this year, are up for grabs and two assembly seats - Saharanpur and Moradabad.
The Saharanpur situation is fully under control. We are keeping a close vigil," said Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The District Magistrate and a senior superintendent of police said this morning that there have been a few incidents of arson overnight, but the city, 170 km from national capital Delhi, has largely been peaceful.
"In UP, there is no place for communalism, anti-social elements... if Opposition tries to politicise this, then law will take its own course," warned Rajendra Chaudhary, the spokesperson of the ruling Samajwadi Party.
The clashes broke out early on Saturday morning over a small plot of land next to a Gurudwara that members of the Sikh community began construction on. Local Muslims claim that land belongs to a mosque.
The police had to fire rubber bullets to control the mobs. Around 2000 paramilitary personnel have been posted in the area since then. Unmanned aerial vehicles have also been deployed to keep a close watch on the situation.
Residents in the area have accused the police of not acting fast enough when the clashes broke out. The administration is focused on getting the situation back to normal before Eid on Tuesday.
Post a comment