While on duty in trouble-torn landhaura in Roorkee in Haridwar district, senior police officers stumbled upon a large quantity of stones and pebbles in the disturbed areas. They said they had been surprised to see the huge stock of such things in the areas which were rocked by violence on Wednesday.
They said they would investigate the matter seriously whence and how they had been stockpiled. Meanwhile, to maintain law and order, the Central government deployed three companies of Central armed police forces (two companies of Rapid Action Force and one company of ITBP) late on Wednesday night.
The armed police forces have staged a flag march to restore peace after violent clashes occurred in landhaura area over the alleged throwing of religious books by some persons on Wednesday noon.
Earlier, the state government had sought six companies of CAPF following tension. Three companies have reached Haridwar. Meanwhile, Governor Dr KK Paul has sought a report from the state administration home over the violence that broke out in landhaura on Wednesday.
State additional director general of police (administration) Ram Singh Meena said that section 144 of CrPC has been enforced in the district. Earlier, it was restricted to only landhaura area. Two FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence.
Mahboob Hasan, resident of landhaura, has registered a complaint and a case under sections 323/504/506/295 of IPC has been registered against Krishan Kumar alias Rajkumar and two other unidentified persons in Manglaur police station. Accused Rajkumar was later arrested. Taking note of stone pelting, arson and creating law and order problem by unidentified persons, a case under sections 147/148/149/332/333/336/353/436/504/307 of IPC and 3/5 PDPP Act and 7 ClA Act against 22 named and 150 unidentified persons have been reported at landhaura police post. In landhaura locality, 30 areas have been identified as sensitive. They have been divided into two zones and five sectors. One additional SP has been deputed as in-charge at each zone while one circle officer at each sector.
Senior police officers like Garhwal Range IG Sanjay Kumar Gunjyal, DIG (law and order), PHQ, Pushpak Jyoti, three SPs- Mukhtar Mohsin, Janmayjay Khanduri and Ajay Joshi- two additional SPs, four circle officers, 10 companies of PACs have been deployed to maintain law and order in the tension- prone area. Senior officers at police headquarters are monitoring the situation round the clock, it is learnt.
Meena said that alert has been issued and police officers, including intelligence staffs, have been directed to be vigilant against the anti- social elements.