Muzaffarnagar riots: Guilty to be punished irrespective of stature, says Akhilesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said that strict action would be taken against those guilty irrespective of their stature.

"Strict action will be taken against those guilty irrespective of stature of that person. It is an unfortunate incident and it should not be politicised. We will also take stern action against those who gave provocative speeches," he told media here today.

The priority is to restore trust among the people who fled their homes due to Muzaffarnagar violence, so they can return to their homes. Houses that have been damaged will be renovated and financial help will also be extended," he added.

Yadav also said that a commission has been set up and action will be taken on the basis of the report prepared by the commission.

He also announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh would be given to the family members of the deceased.

Yadav earlier in the day visited the violence-hit areas of Muzaffarnagar district, and also met the family of the journalist killed in the riots.

Meanwhile, according to television reports, Muzaffarnagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Subhash Dubey has been suspended for failing to control the violence in the area.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, is also expected to visit Muzaffarnagar on Monday. Dr. Singh will make an on the spot assessment of the situation in the violence-hit district.

Dr. Singh, who is expected to visit the hospitals where the injured have been admitted, is expected to discuss the ground situation with Akhilesh Yadav.

Scores of senior officials, including Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arun Kumar and others, are constantly camping in trouble-hit Muzaffarnagar.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has constituted a one-member judicial commission to probe Muzaffarnagar violence, which claimed at least 40 lives.

The commission, which would mainly look into administrative lapses, if any, in controlling the violence, would submit its report to the government within two months.

Violence broke out in the Kawal area of Muzaffarnagar on Saturday, September 7, when members of a community returning from a panchayat meeting in Naglabadhod, three kilometres from Kawal, clashed with members of another community.