Two persons were on Saturday killed and at least 12 others injured as violent clashes broke out between two communities over a land dispute in the western Uttar Pradesh district of Saharanpur with mobs indulging in stone-pelting and arson, prompting authorities to clamp a curfew.
“Harish Kochar, a trader 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 the PGI in a serious condition,” Saharanpur Commissioner Tanveer Zafar Ali said.
Police used force and fired rubber bullets to control the situation as mobs went on a rampage setting ablaze a number of shops.
He said that prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC have been invoked in the district and curfew has been clamped in six areas.
Tension prevailed in the district and a large contingent of security personnel including those of police, Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Action Force have been deployed in the area and paramilitary forces have also been called.
“As per the information received so far there was a dispute over land between two communities which escalated this morning,” Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Mukul Goel told PTI .
The trouble started when members of one community started construction work at the site in Kutubsher area in the wee hours this morning, which was objected to by the other group.
Both the sides indulged in heavy brick batting, arson and opened fire and there were reports of several shops being gutted in the clash, police said.
Even as curfew has been clamped, sporadic incidents of clashes were reported.
The ADGP said senior officers were camping in the area.
Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan said in Lucknow that curfew has been clamped in three police station areas and no one would be allowed to disturb law and order situation.
He said the district administration has been directed not to allow breach of peace at any cost.
Moradabad tense Situation is also tense in Moradabad where the BJP has announced a visit to Kanth area. The BJP alleged that its senior leaders were either detained or prevented from reaching Kanth.
Clashes had erupted between BJP workers and the police in Kanth on July 4, 2014 over holding of a mahapanchayat called by the party to protest removal of a loudspeaker from a temple in Akbarpur village, which led to communal tension in the area.
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Akhilesh asks officials to monitor situation Meanwhile, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav directed senior Home Department officials to strictly handle the situation in Saharanpur and Moradabad.
“A continuous monitoring of the situation in Saharanpur and Moradabad is being done by senior police and government officials,” Principal Secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal told PTI .
“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 said.