Centre rushes 400 anti-riot cops to strife-torn district
SAHARANPUR TENSE Newly appointed DM, SSP visit Shabbirpur, assure adequate security
SAHARANPUR/NEW DELHI:
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 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.
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