Communal tension in Uttar Pradesh town, 27 arrested

Fatehpur, A total of 27 persons were arrested on Friday following a communal clash, which broke out in Jahanabad town, about 90 kms from Fetehpur district headquarter in Uttar Pradesh, during a religious procession on the occasion of Makar Sakranti.

An FIR was registered against 40 unnamed people while 27 have been arrested, said SP Rajiv Mehrotra. The tension sparked off last night when people of other community objected to the route of procession which resulted in arson and heavy stone pelting.

Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was imposed in the area on the order of District Magistrate Rajiv Rautela.

• The procession was attended by VHP’s International Working President Pravin Togadia and BJP Member of Parliament, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.
• Several houses, shops and vehicles were set afire.
• PAC was deployed in the view of sensitivity of matter in the area.
• The timely intervention of administration, however, prevented the situation from being worsened.
• Additional police force from neighbouring districts of Allahabad and Kaushambi were requisitioned.
• The situation had officially been described as tense but under control.