Lucknow:Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued issued in Muzaffarnagar district, of Uttar pradest 450 km from here, as the death toll in the communal violence has risen to 26.
Situation remained “very tense” as violence spread to rural areas in the riot-torn district despite the deployment of the Army and central paramilitary forces. At least eight people were killed in fresh violence at Kutwa-Kutwi on Sunday. As violence spread, hundreds of people were forced to flee their homes and take refuge in police stations.
Fifty people injured in the riots are being treated at different hospitals. The toll may go up as scores of people have been reported missing.
Officials said more than 200 people had been taken into custody in Muzaffarnagar since Saturday in connection with the communal clashes.The state government is contemplating invoking National Security Act on the rioters. District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said the violence had spread to rural areas.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arun Kumar said eight columns of the Army and several companies of the paramilitary forces had already been deployed to quell the violence.
Reports of clashes between two communities continued to pour in from different parts of the district even as the Army and CRPF jawans staged a flag march to instill confidence among people, sources said.
There were incidents of firing at the Army jawans in some areas. Fake videos of violence and inflammatory SMSs were doing the rounds, officials said.
Eyewitness accounts said incidents of firing had taken place at Jansath, Bhopa, Meerapur and Ramraj in the neighbouring Meerut district. At least one death has been reported from Meerut where schools and colleges have been closed as a precautionary measure. Tension prevailed in the neighbouring Shamli and Saharanpur districts and an alert has been sounded throughout the state.
A journalist and a photographer were among the victims. The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the victims and Rs 15 lakh for the family of journalist Rajesh Verma.
Trouble started after a member of one community was beaten to death by a mob during a “mahapanchayat” organised to protest the killing of two youths in Kaval area on August 27. The duo had reportedly killed a youth of a the other community over an incident of eve teasing.
The Bhartiya Kisan Union had convened the mahapanchayat to register its protest against the killings.
While the opposition BSP and the BJP demanded removal of the government for its failure to check violence, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has promised a thorough probe into the clashes.
Muzaffarnagar in Turmoil over Violence; FIR Registered on BJP, Cong Leaders
Muzaffarnagar:Uttar Pradesh (UP) governor B L Joshi forwarded a report to union home ministry that Akhil Yadav led state government has failed to curb the violence in the city, as 26 people have been already killed in the violence in Muzaffarnagar.
The law enforcement agencies announced prohibitory orders, while the paramilitary forces are assigned on the location. Three-day holiday has been declared to schools and colleges.
First Information Report (FIR) has been registered on BJP and Congress leaders related to violence. Akhilesh led state government has already transferred a few efficient honest police officers.
The Governor B L Joshi cautioned socialist leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh led state government for their failure to curb violence since August 27.
