UP govt orders magisterial probe into clashes over idol immersion in Varanasi

Row threatens to cast a shadow on Durga Puja celebrations next month

September 26, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:39 am IST - Varanasi:

Sadhvi Mahant Diviagiri (left) and other sadhus sitting on a dharna in Lucknow on Friday to protest over the lathicharge in Varanasi.Photo: PTI

Sadhvi Mahant Diviagiri (left) and other sadhus sitting on a dharna in Lucknow on Friday to protest over the lathicharge in Varanasi.Photo: PTI

Under fire over the alleged lathicharge on outfits who were prevented from immersing Ganesha idols in the Ganga here, the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

“@UP Govt orders magisterial inquiry in the #Varanasi lathicharge...” UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav tweeted on Thursday.

A statement issued by office of the Varanasi Divisional Commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokaran said that the administration has asked Additional District Magistrate of Gazipur district, Murlidhar Mishra to probe the incident and submit his report within a month.

It has also directed Varanasi District Magistrate Rajmani Yadav to draw up a plan for the probe, the statement said.

Members of ‘Sri Kashi Maratha Ganesha Utsav Samiti’ and various other religious outfits staged a dharna here from September 21 till 23 against preventing them from immersing the Ganesha idols into the Ganga in view of the Allahabadd High Court’s decision.

The High Court had ordered ban on immersion of idols in the Ganga to curb pollution. The imposition was relaxed, especially for Varanasi for a year due to its geographical area. The relaxation ended this year.

The dharna was called off after alleged police action on the devotees. The outfits claimed that the police forcefully took away their idols and immersed them in a nearby Lakshmi-kund (pond).

The incident left over two dozen people injured.

An FIR was filed against 24 people and several other unidentified persons for violating Section 144 of CrPC, rioting and stone pelting.

Ten people associated with the Sri Kashi Maratha Ganesh Utsav Samiti, a religious group participating in the protest, were arrested on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Allahabad High Court issued notices to the district administration on Thursday on a petition filed by a Varanasi-based doctor Dharmendra Kumar Pandey on the grounds that the administration failed to make arrangements for immersion of idols in places other than Ganga.

The court asked why they should not face contempt proceedings while directing the administration to ensure peace and tranquillity in the area. Hearing the petition, Justice Ram Vijai Singh issued notices to the respondents -- Principal Secretary (Urban Planning and Development), Varanasi District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of police.

Swami Avimukteshwaranand, who was discharged from a local hospital yesterday, expressed his displeasure over the incident and said that a ‘Dharm Sansad’ would be convened soon in the temple town to press for their demand of immersion of idols in the river.

The UP Tourism Minister Om Prakash Singh, local BJP leaders including MLC Laxman Acharya, Congress MLA Ajay Rai, Varanasi Divisional Commissioner and other political leaders met Swami Avimukteshwaranand at his Vidya Math.

Expressing concern over the incident, BJP national president Amit Shah has sought a report from his local unit about the incident and directed State co-in-charge Sunil Ojha to visit Varanasi.

Mr. Ojha convened a meeting with party leaders and legal cell bearers at the BJP district unit office at Gulab Bagh and said that the high court had clearly instructed district officials to take into consideration the logical demands of puja organisers.

The entire incident, he added, could have been avoided, if force was not applied by the police to disperse the protesting devotees.

Some local Congress leaders also staged a protest over the incident by burning the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

The city-based Durga Puja Samitis have demanded an immediate release of their members, arrested on charges of rioting on Wednesday.

The Samiti threatened they would not set up any idols for the upcoming Durga Puja festival here, if their demands are not met.-- PTI

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