Several persons including cops were injured when local police in Bareilly fought pitch battle with locals indulged in brick batting and engaged in arson on Thursday morning. The agitated protesters were demanding arrest of those responsible for defilement of a place of worship in Fatehganj Paschim area here. later the cops imposed Section 144 of Cr PC (Prohibitory Orders) and also arrested the trouble makers. Heavy police force has been deployed in the area to avert any fresh clash between the two communities.
“We already held three of the miscreants on Wednesday night apprehending violence and were also looking for the main accused but since the group which called for protest on Thursday for arrest of the culprits have been not appraised of the development so the clash took place on Thursday”, disclsoed IG law and order, A Satish Ganesh while briefing media persons here on Thursday evening. He said that as the police rushed to the area, some anti-social elements were indulged in brick batting and vandalism so the cops had to use mild force and lob tear gas shells to control them, the IG said. Senior officials, including the commissioner, DM, DIG and SSP rushed to the site, Ganesh said, adding that a case has been registered in this connection and some people have also been taken into custody. Additional force including two companies of the PAC have been made available to the district administration, he added.
Meanwhile, Bareilly DIG RKS Rathore said that those trying to vitiate the atmosphere will be dealt with sternly and teams have been formed to crack the case soon. locals have alleged that this was the third incident in last two weeks, but no action was taken by police even after lodging complaint. It may be mentioned that a place of worship was found desecrated in Sahukara Naugawan area on Wednesday. When local residents who claimed that someone is creating the mischief frequently, local police registered a case against unidentified persons in this connection. However, infuriated over the incident, people of the area blocked traffic on Bareilly-Delhi highway for several hours, police said. Shops in the area were also closed in protest. locals alleged that this was the third incident in last two weeks, but no action was taken by police even after lodging a complaint.