Tension ran high in the old city area of Bareill

With situation limping back to normal in Saharanpur, tension ran high  in the old city area of Bareilly  when a mob indulged in stone pelting and arson protesting against posting of objectionable content on a social networking site, on Wednesday night. The people were demanding action against two youths for hurting religious sentiments by posting such objectionable content.

Reports said that two youths of Meera ki Paith locality allegedly posted some objectionable content on a social networking site hurting religious sentiments, after which a written complaint was lodged at Baradari Police Station on July 28   On Wednesday night, a mob collected and started to protest at lalbati crossing for immediate action against the youths.  The agitated persons attacked the house of one of the accused,indulged in stone pelting and arson, while members of two communities then came face to face and the demonstrators and fought pitch battle pelting stones on each other.

District Magistrate of Bareilly, Sanjay Kumar disclosed to media persons that attempts Have been made to set some roadside fruit shops on fire and create disturbances at three-four places. He said one of the accused youth have been arrested.  District Magistrate, SSP J Ravindra Gaur rushed

to the spot along with additional forces and controlled the situation. The DM said that if required, the National Security Act(NSA) could be invoked against those identified for creating trouble. He also said that a case has also been registered against the mob for trying to create violence on Wednesday night. Sleuths of ITBP and RAF has been deployed in sensitive areas and situation was under control, he said.

Meanwhile sources confirmed that Bharatiya Janta Party had also planned to call a `panchayat’ on the issue. The district administration, which went on alert after it, reportedly made contacts with some senior BJP leaders, and had appealed to help the administration in maintaining peace.