By Muslim Mirror Special Correspondent
Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh): Fresh violence erupted in Kasganj town of Uttar Pradesh, with the VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi trying to enter the curfew-bound town which continued to simmer with communal tension evenĀ on Saturday.
Despite the fact that situation was tense, there was an attempt to further flare up the communal tension with the visit of the controversial VHP leader who is accused of making hate speeches against Muslims.
VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi tried to enter the town and attend the last rites of the deceased Chandan Abhishek. Police stopped her at Saikandrarau, just outside the town but the news of her proposed visit had already reached the town.
Though the police tried to convince and persuade her not to visit the area, Prachi sat on protest outside the town. Police have already blocked all the entry points to Kasganj.
Minutes after the last rites of the deceased Chandan Abhishek who succumbed to bullet injuries, was doneĀ on SaturdayĀ noon, the angry rioters tried to target shops owned by minority community. They burnt four shops and two buses in police presence around them. The police personnel allegedly failed to control the local mob.
Senior police and administrative officers camping in Kasganj were reportedly angry with the carelessness of the local police personnel in their failure to control the rioting mob. They told the police brass that police officials responsible for the carelessness will be strictly dealt with.
Rumor mill is abound on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp but there is no confirmation by the police officials if they plan to block internet in order to prevent fake news and rumours from spreading further.
Police has arrested 49 people in connection with the violent clashes and arson in the city. Two cases has been registered in Kasganj Kotwali police station.
One person was killed and two injured in the communal clashes which was triggered by an unauthorised and illegal bike rally of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad which was done without police permission.
Three people were hit by the bullets during the clash but one of then Chandan Abhishek, allegedly a worker of ABVP, succumbed to injuries later in the hospital and rest two Naushad and Prince are under going treatment.
Curfew was imposed in Kasganj city after one person was dead and three were injured in a communal clashĀ on FridayĀ noon. According to senior administrative officials of Kasganj a group of ABVP workers youths took out an unscheduled flag rally in the Kotwali area of Kasganj during which a clash broke between two communities leading to firing and stone pelting.
Local residents and eye witnesses toldĀ MuslimMirrorĀ that the group of bikers who took out the bike rally allegedly raised slogans targeting a community, leading to further provocations and firing. Several vehicles were damaged in the communal clash.
After the news of Chandan brokeĀ on Friday, the situation got more tense and a group of rioters tried to set on fire a local mosque. They also targetedĀ the shops owned by the minority community and burnt some of them.
āTill now we have one confirmed casualty and three people who sustained bullet injuries, are under going treatment,ā the Inspector General Sanjeev Gupta told the media.
Police sealed all the entry points to the town.
Several companies of PAC, RAF have already been deployed in the city. The force did flag march in the affected areas of Kasganj in order to control the rioters. Police force has been deployed in every nook and corner of the town turning it into a military fortress.
Several police vehicles have been deployed to announce and appeal the residents of the town not to come out of their houses and maintain peace and calm.
Additional Director General of police ( law and order) Anand Kumar said that many vehicles were also damaged in the violence which was erupted due to sloganeering and led to stone pelting from both the sides.
āThis was a sudden incident. But the situation is under control right now. The DM Kasgnaj RP Singh, SP Sunil Kumar Singh, heavy personnel from PAC and RAF have been deployed on the spot. Section 144 has been invoked in the area,ā he said.
āOur priority is to ensure that no one is hurt and no property is damaged further in the affected areas. The trouble makers are being identified and strict action will be taken against them,ā Kumar told the press.
“Chandan Abhishek who was hit by bullet was rushed to local hospital where he succumbed ot his injuries. Another injured Naushad has been referred to nearby town of Aligarh, said the DGP office PRO Rahul Shrivastava.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath directed the local administration to ensure that the deceased family gets every possible help.
āChief Minister has expressed heartfelt condolence over the death of one youth during the communal clash and has asked the administration to provide every possible help to the victim’s family. He has appealed both the communities to maintain peace, and has also directed the local administration to deal very strictly with the rioters,ā tweeted the Chief Minister’s Office.
Considering the gravity of the situation the chief ministers office sent commissioner of Aligarh Subhash Chandra Sharma, IG Aligarh Sanjeev Gupta to Kasganj to take a stock of the situation. City limits have been cordoned off and no outsider is being allowed to enter the city.
āWe are trying to identify the trouble makers. Stringent action will be taken against every one of them. The situation in Kasganj is under control. But extre police deployment is being done to be on a safer side,ā the Additional DG ( Law and Order) Anand Kumar told the mediaĀ on Saturday.
Two FIRs have been registered in Kotwali police station against 26 men, including nine named.
āOne FIR was filed by inspector Ripudaman Singh, SHO of Kotwali, against six named people under IPC sections 147, 148, 149, 307, 336, 436, 295, 427, 323, 504 and 7 CLA act. Another FIR was filed by Chandan Guptaās father Sunil Gupta against 20 men, including three named under IPC sections 147, 148, 149, 341, 336, 307, 302, 504, 506, 124A and 3 national flag act. Till now, the police has arrested nine men,ā said the statement issued by the UP police.
Meanwhile the family of Chandan demanded that he be given the status of a martyr. The local BJP MP Rajveer Singh assured them that he will convey their demands to the government.