Section 144 imposed on Saharanpur: social media and messages banned

Saharanpur: The situation in Saharanpur continued to be tense but under control with authorities banning the internet sites and the social media to avoid any rumors leading to escalation in the tension. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Aditya Mishra, who along with three other senior officials are camping here since Tuesday night, said here today that the mobile companies have been asked to restrict the use of social media sites in the violence-affected areas.

He told mediapersons that the cops are closely monitoring the situation and keeping a tight vigil on inflammatory messages on social media. Mr Mishra said he met those injured in the violence and recuperating in the district hospital and assured them of the best treatment possible.

He said there is a trust deficit among the people of different communities and the administration is working to reduce it. The official warned of strict action against those trying to take the law into their hands. So far, over 25 people were arrested in three separate cases registered in connection with violence. The officials also held a meeting of local officers and other prominent persons and discussed the measures to brought normalcy back in the area.

Acting on the deteriorating law and order situation in Sarahanpur due to the ongoing clash between two communities, the Yogi Adityanath-led government last night suspended SSP Subhash Chandra Dubey and District Magistrate NP Singh with immediate effect and attached them to the state headquarters. The ADG said that the situation was normal but police patrolling was underway with holding of flag marches by the central forces to instill confidence among the people.

New SSP Bablu Kumar and DM Pramod Kumar would be taking their charges today. The new DIG S Amanual would also take the charge today, who will take the place of J K Shahi. Meanwhile, political parties have blamed the Yogi government for the violence. Bheem Army leader Chandrashekhar, the organisation which opposed the upper caste in Sabbirpur village, has alleged that the present BJP government was working for a particular caste.

Chandrashekhar, who is on run, told a news channel yesterday in New Delhi said he is ready to surrender, but claimed that the Yogi government was against the Dalits. UP government had announced compensation for the deceased and the injured persons. The government also issued Rs 50,000 each as compensation to the injured persons while a relief of Rs 15 lakh will be given to the family of the man, who was killed in the caste violence on Tuesday.

Violence again erupted in the district for the second day yesterday after unidentified gunmen shot and seriously injured a member of the upper-caste Thakur community, which is embroiled in a bloody conflict with Dalits. The incident took place on Janta road in Janakpuri area. Pradeep Chauhan was shot at near Punwarka block by some motorcycle-borne men, SP Prabal Pratap Singh said.

Chauhan was rushed to the district hospital, from where he was referred to a speciality centre. Members of the Thakur community protested against the incident outside the district hospital. Earlier yesterday, some persons attacked two men while they were sleeping near a brick kiln in Mirzapur village, the police said. Nitin was shot at, while Yashpal was severely beaten up by the attackers.

They have suffered serious injuries and have been admitted to the district hospital. The police, however, said the incident cannot be linked to the ongoing caste violence. Some unidentified persons had set fire to at least 12 houses of Thakurs in Shabbirpur village ahead of the arrival of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati in Saharanpur on Tuesday.

A mob later attacked a group of people returning from a rally of Mayawati, killing Ashish (24), who hailed from Sarsawa town, on the spot and injuring four others. A four-member team led by Home Secretary Mani Prasad Mishra and comprising ADG (Law and Order) , IG STF Amitabh Yash and DIG (Security) Vijay Bhushan reached Saharanpur late on Tuesday night and would be camping there till the situation normalises. (UNI)