The Uttar Pradesh police said on Tuesday that unknown men had used petrol bombs to torch shops in Kasganj and that they were having trouble identifying them as the CCTV footage was not clear.
The Home Ministry has sought a report from the U.P. government.
D.K. Thakur, IG, Agra, said it was not clear if the motorcyclists were affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) or the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) as was being alleged by the residents of Badu Nagar where the first altercation took place.
11 arrested
On January 26, violence broke out in Kasganj after more than 100 motorcyclists tried to make their way through a flag-hoisting ceremony near a primary school at Veer Abdul Hamid Chowk. Twenty-two-year-old Chandan Gupta died after being hit by a bullet.
In all, five FIRs have been filed. Eleven persons have been arrested in connection with Gupta’s death.
Sushil Kumar Gupta, father of the deceased, named six people as being behind the killing. “Based on the father’s complaint, we have arrested a few people. The father was not present at the scene of the crime, but we are gathering evidence against the accused,” O.P Singh, Director General of Police, U.P., told The Hindu .
Mr. Thakur said 99% of the shops burnt belonged to Muslims. “We are trying to catch those who set the shops afire. The CCTV footage from the market has not been of any help as the faces are not visible,” he said.
In a communication, the Home Ministry asked the State government to send a comprehensive report about the violence and the steps it had taken to restore peace.
BJP MP Vinay Katiyar said there were some miscreants who support Pakistan and would go to any extent to defy the tricolour. “They need to be dealt with strictly.”
Mr. Thakur said that it was premature to say if pro-Pakistan slogans were raised at Veer Abdul Hamid Chowk.
