This Article is From Mar 13, 2010

Bareilly under curfew for 12th day

Lucknow, Bareilly: A large part of Bareilly is under curfew for the 12th day running. On March 2, the day after Holi, a communal riot had broke out injuring many people. The police have decided to take no chances.

"We have nothing to do with the riots. But we are the ones who are suffering," said Shopkeeper.

Bareilly looks like a town under siege. The riot still simmers under the surface. The fear of a backlash among civilians is huge.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Mayawati saw to it that Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan, an accused in the riot, was released.

It served two purposes: The Maulana's angry supporters did not resort to more violence and the Muslim vote was pacified.

But it gave Bajrang Dal arsenal. Partymen set shops and vehicles on fire pushing an already tense town to the edge.

"Ten people have been arrested for arson and stone-pelting," said Brijlal Mohan, Additional Director General, Law & Order, Uttar Pradesh.

Add to this chaos, the BJP rushed in to consolidate the Hindu vote.

Soon, Congress and the Samajwadi Party leaders were also trying to reach Bareilly because staying away could be a political setback in a state where Muslim politics is a big decider.

The police kept them all away.

Even a riot can become a field of political upmanship as Bareilly is learning.
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