Lucknow:The Muzaffarnagar chief judicial magistrate on Wednesday issued non-bailable warrants against 16 Uttar Pradesh politicians and community leaders for allegedly inciting violence through inflammatory speeches which took 48 lives in the district and adjoining areas.

Communal violence had flared up in Muzaffarnagar after two brothers of a girl allegedly killed her stalker Shahnawaz on August 27 in Kawaal village. A little later, the girls brothers Gaurav and Sachin were also killed. This led to trouble in the entire district.

Ten police teams have been rushed to arrest those against whom warrants have been issued, a senior official said.These include BSP MP Qadir Rana, BJP MLAs Sangeet Som and Bhartendu Singh, BSP MLAs Noor Saleem and Maulana Jameel, Congress leader Saeeduzaman and BKU chief Naresh Tikait among others, the police said.

On August 31 the BJP leaders led by MLA Hukum Singh called a condolence meeting at Kawaal seeking justice for the killing of the two brothers on August 27.Inflammatory speeches were delivered there as well following which the police registered an FIR against Hukum Singh and three other BJP MLAs Suresh Rana, Bhartendu Singh and BJPs Sangeet Singh Some in this connection.