In the first major communal flare-up after Yogi Adityanath took over as Chief Minister, over a dozen persons including BJP MP Raghav lakhanpal Sharma, his brother Rahul lakhanpal Sharma were injured in heavy stone pelting and arson at a procession taken out in memory of Ambedkar in Dhudhali village of Janakpuri area of Saharanpur on Thursday.
Provoked by sloganeering by processionists, hundreds of youths from another community attacked cops damaging at least two dozen vehicles including official cars of DM Shafqat Kamal, SSP luv Kumar, Commissioner MP Agarwal and other police officers. Heavy police force was later rushed from adjoining districts and all senior officers including DIG Saharanpur Range JK Shahi rushed to the spot and had a tough time chasing away the trouble makers.
Agitated by the attack, a mob owing allegiance to the ruling BJP later damaged the name plate at SSP Saharanpur’s residence, torched some vehicles to protest the police failure in ensuring adequate security during the `Shobha Yatra’ despite knowing about the tension.
BJP workers led by their MP also ghearoed the SSP residence demanding action against all those officials who refused to give them permission. The protest continued till the time of filing the report. Some BJP leaders also reportedly torched some business establishments and houses to protest the police apathy.
Reports said that a `Shobha Yatra’ in memory of Dr BR Ambedkar was taken out tarted on Thursday morning. The yatra took a political colour when BJP MP Raghav lakhanpal Sharma and district BJP president Amit Gagnaja and other local leaders led the procession. Soon due to objection from members of another community, the procession was stopped.
The local administration had denied permission after assessing tension in the area, yet the BJP leaders not only took out the procession but also used provocative language that offended the other community. For the last 10-years, no permission was given for Shobha Yatra due to communal strife.
After stone pelting and arson, hundreds of agitators reached the camp office of SSP lav Kumar and started raising slogans. BJP MP Raghav lakhanpal Sharma and his supporters demanded the suspension of officers posted at the spot. The mob also blocked Saharanpur-Dehradun Road to pressure the cops. Both Commissioner and DIG Saharanpur range were trying to convince the ruling party leaders to withdraw the protest.
Meanwhile, a BJP MlA from Sitapur created ruckus at Toll Plaza in Bareilly after the staff asked him to pay the toll tax. Reports said that the BJP MlA leading four SUV cavalcade was stopped at Toll Plaza in Fatehganj Paschim area of Bareilly on Wednesday night. As soon as the staff demanded payment, the BJP leader refused and when the staff insisted, he slapped one of the staff after which his followers manhandled the other staff and ransacked the office. Interestingly, the entire incident was captured in CCTV footage yet the Bareilly Police bailed out the ruling party MlA by registering a case under non-congnizable offence against unknown person. The officers claimed that the footage was not clear hence no action was taken. Interestingly, they also denied the involvement of the BJP MlA in the incident even when all electronic channels aired the visuals.