Blaming “outsiders” for the violence that rocked several districts during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said that six people from West Bengal associated with Popular Front of India (PFI) had been arrested.
“There is a clear-cut role of outsiders in the violence that rocked parts of Uttar Pradesh recently. Six persons having association with the PFI and who belong to Malda (West Bengal) have been arrested by the UP police,” Sharma told reporters here on Sunday.
It was the first official confirmation of involvement of outsiders in the violence in which 19 people have lost their lives, though officials put the figure at 15.
“The police have found involvement of the Popular Front of India in the violence. It is no longer a secret that this organisation has links with SIMI (Students’ Islamic Movement of India), a banned terror outfit. Six persons from Malda have been arrested,” Sharma said, adding that their modus operandi was clear.
“The state government is capable of handling the situation effectively. We know how they are working and who are PFI sympathisers in the state. We will break the network ,” he said
The deputy chief minister said that the Bharatiya Janata Part had initiated the process to restore peace.
“Confidence-building measures had been started. To ensure peace, we have spoken to Muslim clerics,” he added.
“Senior BJP leaders and ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government are in touch with the people who matter in minority community. The first preference of the government is to win over the confidence of the people,” he said.
Sharma accused opposition parties, particularly Samajwadi Party and Congress, for misleading people of the amended citizenship law.
“The opposition leaders are making false statements to spread canard against the government,” he added.
The deputy chief minister, however, praised the UP Police for showing exemplary courage in dealing with the crisis.
“As many as 288 cops have sustained injuries, out of which 62 are due to firearms. About 500 empty cartridges of illegal weapons have been found,” he said.
Sharma also said that the arrested persons would have to pay for the damages as per Supreme Court orders.
So far, 705 persons have been arrested in connection with the violence.