Six policemen among 19 critical, curfew clamped
At least three people were killed and 19 others, including half a dozen policemen, injured as violent clashes broke out between two communities over a land dispute in Kutubshehr area of Saharanpur district in western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. As the situation got out of control, the district administration clamped curfew in the areas of three police stations. A shoot-at-sight order has been issued to rein in anti-social elements.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to ensure communal harmony in the State. The Home Minister, who is personally monitoring the situation in Uttar Pradesh, also conveyed to the Chief Minister that the Central Government would provide all assistance, including paramilitary forces, to the State Government to maintain law and order.
Akhilesh has directed officials to take firm stand against those who try to stoke the fire. Over a dozen people have been arrested for inciting violence over the land dispute. An altercation between members of the two communities over construction work at the disputed site in Kutubshehr area in the wee hours of Saturday triggered violent clashes. As both sides indulged in stone pelting, indiscriminate firing and setting ablaze several shops, police used force and fired rubber bullets to control the situation.
“A continuous monitoring of the situation in Saharanpur and Moradabad is being done by senior officials,” Principal Secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal told the media. “The CM has directed Principal Secretary (Home) to deal with the Saharanpur situation strictly. He has directed that there must be no laxity at any level and law and order must be maintained at any cost,” he added.
“Harish Kochar, a traders’ leader, and an unidentified person have been killed in the clashes. A policeman has sustained bullet injury in the clashes and has been referred to PGI in a serious condition,” Commissioner, Saharanpur, Tanveer Zafar Ali said.
Heavy posse of police, PAC, RAF and RRF personnel has been deployed. Additional Director General of Police (law and Order) Mukul Goel said, “As per the information, there was a dispute between two communities over land… Despite the imposition of curfew, sporadic incidents of clashes were reported.”
Slamming the BJP, the Congress said that BJP is playing “politics of hatred” to fulfil its political ambition and accused the party of indulging in polarisation on communal lines. “I am deeply saddened to hear about Saharanpur. Violence, divisiveness and hatred have no place in our country. This politics of hatred must end. I appeal to every one to remain calm and refrain from fanning communal passions,” said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Capital on Saturday.