Kasganj Clashes: Centre Seeks Report, UP CM Warns of Strict Action
As many as 112 people have been arrested since communal clashes in Kasganj claimed one life.
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The Union government on 30 January, sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government on the communal clashes in Kasganj, which claimed one life.
In a communication, the Home Ministry asked the state government to send a comprehensive report about the violence that started last Friday, and the steps taken to restore peace in Kasganj and its adjoining areas.
The state government has also been asked to provide details about the steps taken to punish those involved in the violence, the official said.
As many as 112 people have been arrested since violence broke out in the Uttar Pradesh town where at least three shops, two buses and a car were torched following the cremation of 22-year-old Chandan Gupta who died in clashes on 26 January.
On Monday, Gupta’s kin refused the Rs 20 lakh compensation promised by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on 28 January. His relatives, instead, demanded that he should be given ‘shaheed’ (martyr) status.
A day later, police pasted a 'Kurki' (seizure) notice on the house of the main accused in the killing of Chandan Gupta.
CM Yogi Adityanath Breaks His Silence
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday, broke his silence on Kasganj violence promising action against those involved, even as politics brewed over the clashes with Union minister Giriraj Singh claiming that media would have chosen a "different" line if the killed youth was from the minority community.
Another BJP hardliner Vinay Katiyar, known for his controversial utterances, waded in the row saying there were some "miscreants who support Pakistan" and they could go to any extent to defy the tricolour.
Adityanath warned of "strict action" against the perpetrators of violence. The Adityanath government has already replaced the district's Superintendent of Police.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that he felt the violence was pre-planned.
What Led to the Violence?
The clashes began on Republic Day when a "Tiranga Yatra" bike rally was taken out by the ABVP and other Hindu organisations. As they were passing through Badu Nagar – a Muslim-dominated area – some groups allegedly objected to certain slogans and a heated argument led to stone pelting. The clashing groups resorted to firing which killed 22-year-old Gupta and injured another man, named Noushad, who was admitted to a hospital in neighbouring Aligarh district.
On Monday, according to India Today, a magisterial probe was ordered into the violence to scrutinise whether the escalation of violence in the conflict-torn city was caused by an administrative lapse.
A special investigation team has also been formed to go through all evidence and objectively probe the sequence of the riot.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik slammed the communal violence, calling it “a blot on the state’s reputation.’’
Normalcy Being Restored
Although normalcy returned to previously strife-torn Kasganj on Monday, prohibitory orders remained in place and security forces maintained a strict vigil to keep the situation under control. The UP police said drone cameras had been deployed for aerial surveillance.
The Adityanath-led government stressed that the guilty would not be spared. Explosives were found during house-to-house searches following which the state police chief said the stringent National Security Act (NSA) would be invoked against the culprits.
The UP police, on Monday, also clarified rumours about the death of another youth named Rahul Upadhyay in the clashes.
Shops Closed, Internet Services Suspended for the Weekend
Internet services were suspended for over 24 hours in Kasganj on Saturday, 27 January, following fresh violence being reported a day after Gupta died in the clashes.
All internet services remained suspended between 5 pm on 27 January till 10 pm on Sunday.
Former state CM Akhilesh Yadav said it was unfortunate that the clashes happened on Republic Day, adding that “the people of Kasganj respect each other. We want action against culprits, but no injustice should be done.”
Shortly after the attack, Adityanath appealed for 'peace and harmony’ on Twitter.
Congress Demands Judicial Probe
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari alleged callousness and mismanagement on the part of the Uttar Pradesh government. He said the local administration was responsible for the clashes.
He said the continuing violence threatened peace in the entire state.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI, and The Indian Express)
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