49 arrested as violence erupts again in UP’s Kasganj, buses and shops burnt

Mangalore Today News Network

Kashmir, Jan 27, 2018 : Violence broke out again in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj on Saturday when agitated groups of people returning from a cremation set a kiosk on fire at Ghantaghar even as the district magistrate said 49 people were arrested in connection with the clashes.

 

 

Miscreants damaged at least three shops and torched a few commercial establishments on the second day of violence in the town, police said, after a local resident was killed in clashes following pelting of stones on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

A bus was also set on fire in the latest flare-up in Kasganj, where a curfew was imposed on Friday after the clashes.

A strong posse of RAF and PAC personnel have intensified vigil in the district, whose borders have been sealed to stop miscreants from entering the city.

“Forty-nine people have been arrested in connection with the clashes, Section 144 is still imposed and borders have been sealed,” Kasganj district magistrate RP Singh told news agency ANI.

Kasgnaj had witnessed clashes between two groups at Bilram Gate on Friday, during a Tiranga Yatra. A local resident, 23-year-old Chandan, was killed in firing during the clashes.

His body was taken for cremation to Kali Nadi early Saturday where MP Rajveer Singh alias Raju Bhaiyya was present along with Kasganj MLA Devendra Singh Rajput.

The cremation was delayed as several demands were made, including status of martyr for Chandan, adequate relief and government jobs for his family members. Chandan was cremated after the MP and MLA informed the state government of the demands, and received assurances that they would be addressed.

Despite deployment of security forces, agitated groups of people, returning from the cremation, raised slogans and burnt a kiosk at Ghantagar.

Police led by additional director general (Agra zone) Ajay Anand swung into action and arrested nine persons.

Police have registered two FIRs — one over the clash that took place during the Tiranga Yatra and the subsequent violence, and second one over the killing of Chandan during firing.
Fire brigade personnel try to douse a blaze at a shoe shop in Baradwari area of Kasganj on Saturday. (ANI Twitter)

“Anti-social elements today tried to set on fire a small shop on the city’s outskirts... Some of the anti-social elements have been taken into custody, while others were chased away,” additional DG (law and order) Anand Kumar said.

“Our main job at this point of time is to ensure that along with normal law and order situation, brotherhood among communities also remain intact,” he told reporters.

Kumar added the police was trying to make people “understand communal bonhomie”. “The situation is under control, and will remain so. Sufficient police personnel have been deployed.”

Superintendent of Police, Kasganj, Sunil Kumar Singh, said: “Anti-social elements had set two shoe shops on fire in Ghantghar market. Apart from this one utensil shop was set afire by anti- social elements. A bus was also set ablaze.”

Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described the violence as unfortunate, and said the people behind it would not go unpunished.

courtesy:Zeenews