UP burns again, Sikh-Muslim clashes kill 3 in Saharanpur
TINDERBOX Shoot-at-sight order given, curfew clamped, Centre sends extra troops
MEERUT: Communal violence left Uttar Pradesh bloodied again with three killed and several injured in a clash between Sikhs and Muslims in Saharanpur on Saturday. Curfew was clamped and shoot-at-sight orders given against rioters.
The communities, who clashed over construction on a disputed plot, fought with firearms, swords and stones and torched shops and vehicles. One of the deceased, Sanjeev Kochar, died of bullet injuries. The second victim was identified only as Arif while there was no confirmation of the third’s identity. A constable and a home guard sustained serious injuries as the police stepped in to control the rampage. They are both in critical condition.
This is the latest in a series of communal clashes in UP and comes close to a year after the Muzaffarnagar riots, which left more than 60 people dead and 50,000 homeless. It presents a fresh challenge to the embattled Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government at a time when it is already dealing with communal tensions over a temple loudspeaker in adjoining Moradabad.
Additional troops have been deployed in riot-hit areas of Saharanpur, some 170km from Delhi and 560km from Lucknow. Around 600 paramilitary force personnel were dispatched by the Centre after Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the chief minister, sources said. Singh asked Yadav to ensure communal harmony in the state and offered all assistance.
The rampage reportedly continued for several hours. “They broke shutters, torched shops and vehicles and fearlessly roamed around the area for hours,” said Amanpreet Singh, a member of the Guru Singh Sabha. The sabha claims the plot belongs to the gurdwara near which it is located while the Muslims call it a holy spot for the community. The matter is in court.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 >> SGPC TO SEND TEAM, P12 major communal clashes in UP since SP came to power in March 2012 (see map)
people killed in these incidents
MUZAFFARNAGAR, AND AFTER
63 dead, 50,000 homeless after Jat-Muslim riots — sparked by eve-teasing incident — in Muzaffarnagar in Aug-Sept 2013
FIRs against BJP, BSP, Cong, RLD and SP leaders as attempts made to politicise issue 4 big clashes since then, 7 killed Saharanpur
Muzaffarnagar
Amroha
Bareilly Bahraich Shamli Meerut Ghaziabad Aligarh Kosi Kalan in Mathura
UTTAR PRADESH Asthan in Pratapagarh Faizabad
Ambedkar Nagar
Jaunpur