Centre rushes 400 anti-riot cops to strife-torn district
SAHARANPUR TENSE Newly appointed DM, SSP visit Shabbirpur, assure adequate security
An uneasy calm prevailed at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur district on Thursday, two days after fresh caste clashes claimed one life and left many others injured, even as newly appointed DM Pramod Pandey and SSP Bablu Kumar visited the village and assured adequate security to the affected families.
Meanwhile, to help the state government restore peace in the region, the Centre has rushed 400 anti-riot police personnel to Saharanpur. The forces were sent after a request from the Uttar Pradesh government, which also dispatched a preliminary report to the Union home ministry with details on incidents of violence. It said apart from the two deaths (one person died on May 5), 40 people were injured.
“Four companies (around 400 personnel) of the Rapid Action Force have been sent to Saharanpur to help the state government maintain law and order following a request of the Uttar Pradesh government,” home ministry spokesperson Ashok Prasad told reporters in New Delhi.
The DM said the visits of politicians to violence-hit villages have been banned as the district administration was giving priority to bringing normalcy in the area.
Earlier in the day, the administration denied permission to Congress leader PL Punia to visit the villages.
Congress spokesperson Manoj Tyagi condemned the ban on the visit of Punia and said the BJP was denying justice to Dalits after seeking their votes in elections.
Suspension of Internet and mobile messaging services in the district continued on Thursday. The services were suspended to prevent spread of rumours, which the administration feared could spark further trouble.
In view of the continuing violence, the state government had
THE DM SAID THE VISITS OF POLITICIANS TO VIOLENCEHIT VILLAGES HAVE BEEN BANNED AS THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WAS GIVING PRIORITY TO BRINGING NORMALCY IN THE AREA
on Wednesday suspended the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police. The divisional commissioner and the deputy inspector general of police were also transferred .
The Congress launched a scathing attack against the Uttar Pradesh government over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
“Uttam Pradesh is turning into Crime Pradesh. The Saharanpur incident is very painful and heart wrenching. Such incidents never happened before. This all happened at the behest of the government,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
The clashes have developed a sense of fear among Dalits who are demanding adequate security.
In a bid to salvage the image of the government, BJP MP Raghav Lakhanpal has declared to adopt riot-hit Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur.
BJP leaders held a meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the situation in the district especially after Dalits were ambushed while returning from BSP chief Mayawati’s rally. Thereafter two incidents of attack on people in Morah village and Janta road worsened the situation further.
BJP MP Raghave Lakhanpal, party’s MLAs and office bearers attended the meeting in which everyone emphasised on bringing normalcy back in the district. Leaders admitted that prevailing situation has jolted the image of the party hence steps are being taken to restore peace and harmony among people of all castes in the area.
Lakhanpal, who has been facing criticism for his role in Doodhli incident in which clash occurred over carrying out a pro- cession on the occasion of Dr Ambedkar Jayanti, declared to adopt Shabberpur.
Rajputs of the village allegedly torched over 50 hutments of Dalits here on May 5 after the death of a Thakur youth in brick batting with Dalits.
Lakhanpal visited the village a few days ago and met the members of both the castes and appealed to them to restore brotherhood and harmony in the village. Talking to HT, Lakhanpal explained that his motive behind adopting the village was to revive trust between the members of both castes.