Violence erupted again in the riot hit Bareilly town in Uttar Pradesh on Friday as the riotous mob clashed with the police in Sanjay Nagar and Subhash Nagar areas of the city.
About a dozen persons were injured in the incidents of violence and arson. Among the injured are the SP (city) of Bareilly, Rakesh Jolly and about five other policemen.
Ten persons were arrested on Friday, even as 267 persons had been rounded up earlier.
Bareilly has been reeling under the impact of communal violence since the last 11 days but the district administration and the police have failed to curb the violent incidents. Indefinite curfew continued in four police station areas of Kotwali, Prem Nagar, Baradari and Qila.
The ADG (Law and Order), Brij Lal told reporters here that additional force has been rushed to Bareilly with a PAC Commandant, Jyoti Narain, four additional SPs and four deputy SPs being sent to assist the police officials. Mr. Lal said violence erupted in Subhash Nagar and Sanjay Nagar areas of the town in the afternoon. He said seven vehicles and about half a dozen roadside shops were set a ablaze by a mob, which also subjected the police force to heavy brickbatting.
Mr. Lal said the police fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disburse the mob. About half a dozen persons were injured in police firing, the ADG said.
Violence had erupted late Thursday night when a riotous mob ran amok in Katra Chand Khan, Qutub Shah Ki Baraat and Bareilly College Gate areas indulging in violence and arson. It is said that Thursday night's violence was triggered off by the release of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council leader, Maulana Tauqeer Reza Khan. The Maulana was released reportedly at the behest of a senior minister of the Mayawati regime keeping in view the possibility of the Muslims boycotting the Bahujan Samaj Party rally in Lucknow on March 15.
Following reports that the Ram Baraat procession on Friday had been cancelled by the district administration, the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Bareilly, former MP, Santosh Kumar Gangwar and others staged a dharna at the DM's residence at around 1 AM on Thursday night. The dharna was called off late in the night.
Mr. Lal said the Ram Baraat procession was voluntary called off by the organisers in view of the tense communal situation. He added that the situation after Friday's violence was under control.
Meanwhile, the State Government on Thursday transferred the DIG, Bareilly Range, MK Bashal and replaced him with Rajeev Sabbarwal. The District Magistrate, Ashish Goyal was also moved. Anil Garg has assumed charge as the new DM.
