3 killed in communal clash over eve-teasing
THE CM HAS ALSO ANNOUNCED `20 LAKH FINANCIAL AID TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE DECEASED AS WELL AS `5 LAKH TO THE INJURED.
MEERUT: At least three people lost their lives and over a dozen injured in a communal violence that erupted after an incident of eve-teasing in Peda village of Bijnore, on Friday morning.
According to report, a few girls of Nayagaon, who used to take a bus from Peda village to reach their school in Bijnore, claimed that some boys were repeatedly harassing them.
A group of boys from Nayagaon village escorted the girls.
They thrashed Talib, a resident of village Peda, when he allegedly harassed a girl. When Talib raised an alarm, his supporters reached there and beat up the youths from Nayagaon.
The injured boys managed to escape and narrated the incident after reaching their village. A number of people from Nayagaon and a neighbouring village, armed with guns and wooden staff, reached Peda and attacked the villagers. Both the sides exchanged fire and pelted each other with stones.
Ahsan, a resident of Peda, sustained bullet injuries and died on the spot while Sarfaraz and Hashimuddin were pronounced dead at the hospital.
At least a dozen people sustained injures in the incident. The doctors referred five of them to Meerut Medical College for treatment. Condition of two of them has been stated to be critical.
Meanwhile, agitated villagers blocked roads demanding immediate arrest of those who indulged in violence. DIG, Moradabad range, Omkar Singh rushed to the spot with ADG (law and order) Daljeet Choudhary and other senior officers.
Taking note of the incident, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has sent secretary (home) Mani Prasad Mishra and ADG (law and order), Daljit Singh Chawdhary to Bijnore to assist the district administration in maintaining law and order in the riot hit area.
The CM has also announced ` 20 lakh financial aid to the family members of the deceased as well as `5 lakh to the injured.
The district health department has been directed to make arrangement for the treatment of the injured.
Taking lesson from Muzaffarnagar riot which also erupted following an incident of eve-teasing in Kawal of Jansath area three years ago, officials deployed heavy force in and around the village and assured people that stern action would be taken against the culprits.
In September 2013, three people, including two brothers, were killed following a dispute over eve-teasing in village Kawal. The incident resulted in widespread violence in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining Shamli district.
Communal clashes claimed the lives of over 60 people and more than 70,000 were displaced and had to stay in relief camps for over a year.