Curfew relaxed for four hours in riot-hit Saharanpur

Superintendent of Police says one person who had instigated violence has been identified

With the situation improving in violence-hit Saharanpur, the district authorities on Monday relaxed curfew for four hours in the new city area to allow people to buy their daily provisions.

District Magistrate Sandhya Tiwari said, “As the situation improved, the curfew was relaxed between 10 am and 2 pm in the new city and between 3 pm and 7 pm in the old town areas.” She said people contacted the authorities on Sunday as rumours had been spread but “more than 96 per cent of these incidents were not found to be true.”

An uneasy calm had prevailed on Sunday in Saharanpur, where 38 people were arrested as a political blame game erupted after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Samajwadi Party of indulging in “vote-bank politics”. The Congress had lamblasted the Uttar Pradesh government for “lapses”.

Curfew and shoot-at-sight orders had remained in force on Sunday in the wake of clashes between two communities over a land dispute, with some indulging in arson. Three persons were killed in the violence on Saturday that left 33 injured. Around 22 shops were gutted and 15 four-wheelers torched in the incidents, according to Tiwari.

Meanwhile, Saharanpur Superintendent of Police Rajesh Pandey said one person who had instigated the violence has been identified. “We have not arrested him yet, but we are hopeful that we will catch hold of him very soon,” he said, noting that the individual has been charged with rioting, arson and conspiracy.

“We will undertake a detailed investigation and only then we can say whether it is a grand design or some thing else is behind the scene”, he added.  

Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mukul Goel on Sunday said in Lucknow, “It has been directed that action should be taken against whosoever is found guilty.”

Officials in Lucknow said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has sought a report from the district authorities regarding the incidents in Saharanpur. Yadav has termed the violence as “unfortunate” and said those responsible will not be spared. Reacting to charges levelled by the Congress and the BJP, the Samajwadi Party said there was an effort to “disrupt peace in the state” and that there was “no place for communalism and anti-social elements.”

Trouble began when members of one community started construction work at the site in Kutubsher area in wee hours of Saturday, which was objected to by the other group. People from both the sides indulged in heavy brick-batting, arson and opened fire, police said. Police had fired rubber bullets to control the situation as mobs went on a rampage, setting several shops afire.

Five policemen and a city magistrate were among those injured. A constable was in a serious condition in Chandigarh PGI after suffering a bullet injury.

Situation fully under control: Home minister

The Centre on Monday said the situation in violence-hit Saharanpur is fully under control and it is keeping a close eye on it. Home Minister Rajnath Singh (pictured) told reporters, “Saharanpur situation is fully under control. We are keeping a close vigil.” Singh's comments came a day after he briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation in the Uttar Pradesh town. The Home Ministry has already sent 600 paramilitary personnel to assist the state administration in maintaining law and order situation there. Singh had on Saturday spoken to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and asked him to take all possible steps to control the violence.

Three persons were killed in the violence on Saturday that left 33 injured. Around 38 people have been arrested. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister, during a meeting with Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjeet Singh Atwal here, said the state government was committed to providing justice and security to all residents. When asked about the plot of land over which the clashes had erupted in Saharanpur, the chief minister said the matter was sub judice and action would be taken accordingly.