Kasganj: Fresh violence erupts on Sunday morning; six arrested

Kasganj: Fresh violence was reported in the Kasganj town here on Sunday morning as the miscreants came on the roads and vandalized public property, ignoring the Section 144 that was imposed in the region after a man was killed and another injured in a communal clash on Republic Day.

As per the informed sources, a group of people tried to set ablaze a medical store in the town, in protest against the death of Abhishek Gupta, 22, who was killed in firing between two groups during a rally on Friday.

The police confirmed arresting six people in involvement with the incident. Apart from imposition of Section 144, internet services have also been shut down in many parts of the region, said the officials.

On Saturday also, people had come on the roads and had set ablaze about 10 shops, several vehicles and a makeshift house to protest against the same.

The communal violence took place on Friday last when a 'Tiranga Yatra' in the form of a bike rally was taken out by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and some other Hindu organisations in the town. As they were passing through the Hulka locality — a Muslim majority area — some youths pelted stones on the bikers.

After that, it became a free for all and the bikers also retaliated with stones. Soon there was firing from the locality in which two persons received gunshot wounds and one succumbed in the hospital later.

An irate mob attacked vehicles on the highway, targeted public property and torched some other vehicles. Over half-a-dozen persons, including some policemen, have also been injured in the clashes.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) had been deployed in the violence-hit areas and police patrolling has been increased.

Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar had informed that the situation was under control but tense. The district authorities were keeping a close watch on the situation, he added.

Also Read: Communal clash in UP on Republic Day; 1 killed, many injured

Some sources suggest that the situation turned worse when in response to the sloganeering of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', somebody from the locality shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad'. This apparently incensed the ABVP workers and they also attacked the youth of that community.

The injured person who later succumbed to bullet injuries has been identified as Sushil Gupta, a resident of Shivalaya, Railway Road in the town.

Two others who sustained serious injuries — Naushad and Prince — have been referred to Aligarh where the condition of the latter is stated to be very critical.

Although no curfew has been declared in the town, Home Department officials said prohibitory orders were in force, and keeping in view the 'fluid and tense situation', people have been advised to stay indoors.

Local BJP leaders, MP Rajveer Singh and other politicians are also counselling the people to calm down and are trying to normalise the situation, an official said.