Surprised' Nitish condemns Mathura violence; CPI (M) demands judicial probe

Expressing surprise over the violence in Mathura, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday wondered as to how somebody can illegally occupy a government's land for so many days.

Asserting that should have been an action on this earlier, he said, "I am surprised to hear about the Mathura incident. How can somebody illegally occupy a government's land for so many days?"

Nitish said media reports over demands of the people present at the Jawahar Bagh 'is even more surprising'.

"Nobody should be allowed to take law in their hands," he added.

The Bihar Chief Minister also condemned the killing of police officers.

"How could they gather arms and ammunition in Mathura? I don't know about this, but this is very surprising," he added.

Meanwhile, CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury demanded a judicial probe by a sitting judge in the Mathura violence.

Uttar Pradesh DGP Javed Ahmed yesterday said Ram Vriksh Yadav, the chief of the violent encroachers in Jawahar Bagh, was among those killed in the clashes.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has reportedly announced an enhanced compensation to the family of slain police officers from Rs. 20 to 50 lakh.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, facing all-round criticism over the killings of senior police officials in Mathura violence, said his government stands by the families of the slain officers in this time of adversity.

"We stand by the families. We will provide the families all possible assistance. This was a decision taken by our government that if a police, paramilitary, military personnel dies on duty, the government would be giving Rs. 20 lakh to the family," he said.

The BJP and BSP have demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

Meanwhile, the combing operation by police is still going on at Jawahar Bagh, which on witnessed the deadly clash between police and a cult group on June 2 rendering 25 dead and hundreds other injured.