Sir— This refers to the editorial, “Saharanpur clampdown” (May 26). The fact that in order to contain the communal clashes in Saharanpur, the Uttar Pradesh Government had to suspend several police officers, apart from blocking Internet and mobile services, reveals how grave is the situation.
Communal clashes always spread like wild fire and make the people tense, panicky, irrational and fierce, and as such, even a minute incident has to be watched seriously and the culprits must be brought to justice without delay and discrimination. Since the law and order authorities have a tendency to deliberately ignore certain incidents or impetuously react out of prejudice and taking side of the governing party, they are also responsible for the violence to some extent.
But the public has a larger role in avoiding rumour-spread and maintaining harmony. People should set aside religious attachments and caste-feelings in times of communal riots which invariably cause death and destruction.