U.P. takes stock of property damage

Two dozen State-erected temporary camps providing shelter to around 3,000 families, mostly Muslims

Over 15,000 villagers, mostly from the Muslim community, have been staying at nearly two dozen temporary camps set up by the Uttar Pradesh administration here ever since they fled from homes as riots had broken out in different parts of this district on September 7.

“We set up 12 temporary camps in Budhana and 10 other camps in the main city a couple of days ago in the wake of the mass exodus from far-flung villages [in the State]. There are roughly 3,000 families staying in these camps and we have made arrangements for their daily essentials, including three-time meal. Milk, bed-sheets and other articles are being supplied to these camps every day. We have also sent veterinary doctors to the villages to take care of the cattle they left behind,” said District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma on Thursday.

Mr. Sharma said a survey was also being conducted to ascertain the damage to private and public properties caused by the rioters. “Teams are being sent to the villages to prepare video clips of the properties damaged during the riots. Preliminary reports have indicated that around 70 houses were burnt down,” he added.

The villagers putting up at the relief camps would be transported back to their respective places after normality is restored in the region.

Probing video footage

Meanwhile, the State administration is probing into the veracity of certain video clips showing local leaders of various political parties making inflammatory speeches. In one of the video clips, Bahujan Samaj Party MP Qadir Rana, Rashid Siddique of the ruling Samajwadi Party and the Congress’ Saeed-ul-Jaman and others were shown addressing a gathering on August 30. In another video clip, purportedly prepared on August 31, one Sadhvi Prachi — who has been mentioned as one of the accused in the First Information Report registered against 40 political and community leaders who shared the stage at the September 7 “khap mahapanchayat” in Kawal village — has been shown allegedly making a provocative speech.

Seven leaders from the BJP, a former Congress MP and one former BSP leader apart from three belonging to the Bharatiya Kisan Union were booked for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the “mahapanchayat”.