Day after Saharanpur clash, police arrest 17 for rioting
MEERUT: Police have arrested 17 people on charges of rioting during the birth anniversary celebrations of Rajput king Maharana Pratap in Shabirpur village of Saharanpur. One person was killed and at least 15 others, including a police officer, were injured in the violence.
The brother of the village head is among the accused who have been arrested. Police have lodged an FIR against 10 identified and over a hundred unidentified people and are carrying out raids to arrest them.
SSP Saharanpur Subhash ChandraDubeysaidthesituation was under control and additional force had been deployed in and around the village to maintain law and order.
Violence broke out on Friday when members of the Thakur community from Shimlana village took out a procession to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap.
When the procession was passing through the predominantly Dalit village of Shabirpur, residents objected to the allegedly raucous celebration, triggering an exchange of heated words.
When the Dalits lodged a com- plaint, the in-charge of Badagaon police station asked the members of the Thakur community to stop playing music.
The altercation led to a clash, with both groups pelting each other with bricks and stones.
A stone fatally hit a 25-year-old Thakur man named Sumit. Enraged over the death, Thakurs from neighbouring villages gathered at Shabirpur and set over two dozen Dalit houses on fire.
SSP SC Dubey and district magistrate NP Singh rushed to the spot with heavy force and dispersed the rioters.
Police carried out raids on Friday night to arrest rioters from both the sides.