Six injured in clash over land dispute in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi

Mangalore Today News Network

Varanasi,  Jul 17, 2017: Six persons were injured and several vehicles were damaged in stone pelting during a clash over ownership of a disputed land near a mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi on Sunday night, police said.

The clash broke out after one person, whose identity was not revealed by the police, hitched a cow on the land. The person earlier also constructed a small hut there, claiming ownership of the vacant plot in the city’s Sigra police station area.

When a large number of people from the minority community went to objet the alleged encroachment bid claiming the land belonged to the mosque, the person accosted them with a group of his supporters.

At one point two groups resorted to stone pelting in which some vehicles were damaged and six persons sustained injuries, district magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra said.

The situation turned more volatile, when some miscreants set the hut on the disputed land on fire.

Police resorted to cane charge and used tear gas to disperse the stone pelters.

Senior administrative and police officials also rushed to the spot to ensure there was no further flare up.

A large contingent of police was deployed in the area to maintain peace in the area.

The DM has instructed police to immediately book those involved in the clash. He also appealed to the people not to pay heed to rumour, adding strict action would be taken against those who tried to breach the peace.

Senior superintendent of police RK Bhardwaj said cops are keeping an eye on the situation, which is under control now. A case will be soon registered over the incident.

Courtesy: Hindustantimes