State govt blames Bhim Army for Sunday’s Aligarh violence
Oppn demands judicial probe into police action against anti-CAA protesters
LUCKNOW: The state government on Monday said the violence erupted in Aligarh on Sunday after the supporters of Bhim Army and the women sitting on protest for last 26 days clashed with each other.
The opposition parties demanded judicial probe into the violence.
Replying to the adjournment motion moved by the opposition over the violence in Aligarh, Parliamentary affairs minister, Suresh Kumar Khanna said, “The group of women was sitting on dharna for last 26 days but on Sunday the volunteers of Bhim Army tried to take over the leadership of the protest. When women group resisted their attempt, the supporters of both groups clashed.
Bhim Army had given call for nationwide bandh on Sunday.
During the clash, anti-social elements pelted stones, set afire police vehicle, bus, shops and a motorcycle. The police used force to control the mob that was on a rampage. The district administration did not remove the women protesters but supplied plastic sheets to set up temporary shelter on Saturday, said Khanna.
Blaming the opposition for the violence during the anti-CAA protest, Khanna said the opposition parties were instigating the protesters to indulge in violence.
“To maintain law and order police had used force. The administration had been directed not to harass the innocent people,” he said. Leader of Samajwadi Party legislature party Ram Govind Chaudhary said the women were organising peaceful protest in
Aligarh. The police cane charged the protestors and open fire on them as well. One protestor died and several were injured. The state government is trying to suppress the movement, he said.
Leader of Congress legislature party, Aradhana Mishra said, state government has claimed to establish Ram Rajya in the state but jungle raj prevails in UP. The police committed atrocities on the protestors in Lucknow and Aligarh. “The protesters are beaten and chased. The district administration officers are misguiding the state government over the issue. The local intelligence units failed to alert the administration,” she said. Both Chaudhary and Mishra demanded judicial probe into the incident by sitting judge of Supreme Court or High Court.
Khanna alleged that opposition parties were involved in the violence and police tried to control it. Expressing dissatisfaction with the reply, the SP and the Congress members staged a walkout from the house.