Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who came under all-round attack for his government’s handling of the communal violence here in September that killed 62 people, has said those responsible for the fresh bout of violence in two neighbouring villages of Muzaffarnagar would be brought to justice. The law would take its course. No one was above the law, he told reporters in Kannauj on Thursday.
Eight persons have been arrested and cases registered against 15 people in connection with Wednesday’s violence in the Budhana area, in which three men were killed. A woman was also killed and her husband injured when some unidentified people attacked them in the Thugana area but police said it was not known if there was a communal angle to the incident.
Mohammad Ali reports from Hussainpur:
Violence occurred at Muhammadpur Rai Singh and Hussainpur villages even as efforts were being made to bring about reconciliation between Jats and Muslims.
Victims say the clashes could have been prevented had the FIRs on last month’s communal riots been acted upon.
Last month, 62 persons died in riots in this western U.P. district.
Members of the minority community at Muhammadpur Rai Singh then fled to Hussainpur and are now being sheltered by its villagers.
Hussainpur, a predominantly Muslim village with just over a 20 per cent Hindu population, had not witnessed untoward incidents during last month’s violence.
