SAHARANPUR RIOT: PRINCIPAL SECY AND DGP STRESS ACTION

Principal secretary (home) Debasish Panda and UP director general of police Sulkhan Singh have instructed officials to initiate stern action against those who perpetrated caste violence at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur on Friday.

Angry Thakurs had set fire to at least 15 houses belonging to Dalits after the death of a Thakur youth, Sumit Rana, and one person had lost his life in brick-batting. Cops arrested 17 rioters on Saturday and raids are underway to arrest the other suspects.

Panda and Singh arrived in Saharanpur on Sunday for a division level review meeting. The district magistrates, senior superintendents of police and other officials of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts briefed the duo about the law and order situation in the area. Panda and Singh also reviewed the Shabbirpur violence and tried to figure out the lapses on part of the administration and police. They discussed possible preventive measures to stop the recurrence of such incidents in future.

The officials appreciated how Saharanpur DM NP Singh and SSP Subhash Chand Dubey dealt with and controlled the situation.

The SSP and DM also said they had decided to take the help of influential members of different communities to prevent such clashes and control crime. “Soon, influential and respected people of different villages, blocks, towns and cities will be roped in. This will help spread harmony and brotherhood among members of different castes and communities,” the SSP said.

SAHARANPUR SSP AND DM SAID THEY WOULD TAKE HELP FROM INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES TO PREVENT SUCH CLASHES AND CONTROL CRIME IN THE AREA