Even as Saharanpur Police failed to net the culprits who took out a procession in memory of Dr Ambedkar that led to a communal violence, yet another clash took place in the district after some saffron leaders tried to take out a yatra despite not having permission from the local administration.
While one youth was killed in the violence, over a dozen others were injured and the hutments of over two dozen Dalits in the area were torched by trouble makers. The situation could only be brought under control after heavy police force along with IG Meerut Zone Ajay Anand, DIG Saharanpur Range JK Shahi reached the spot.
Over half a dozen fire tenders were also pressed into action to control the fire. Heavy police force were patrolling the area and some miscreants were also detained by the cops.
As per reports, some youths from Rajput community gathered at Simlana area of Badagaon to garland the statue of Maharana Pratap. They later took out a `Shobha Yatra’. The local administration had however denied permission for the programme.
While taking out the procession, the youths played loud music. As the procession entered Shabbirpur area with mixed population mostly Dalits, the local pradhan objected over playing of music which triggered a confrontation. The youths scuffled with the pradhan but cops intervened and chased away the trouble makers.
The matter took a violent turn when youths informed of the police action to members of their community who gathered and attacked the residents of Shabbirpur area torching over a dozen vehicles of police, along with several dozen huts owned by the other community.
The two groups subsequently clashed and exchanged missiles in which several persons were injured while a youth identified as Sunit Rajput was killed. learning of the attack, senior police officers rushed to the spot and somehow defused the situation. The situation was tense in the district at the time of filing this report.