Mathura clashes: UP govt not in favour of judicial probe

"The government has already made it clear in the state assembly that it is not in the favour of ordering a judicial probe in the riots as it is a time consuming process," State Minister for Urban development Mohammad Azam Khan told reporters at Kosi Kalan, about 45 kms from here.

Extending full cooperation to the traders, he asked them to re-open their shops.

Annoyed over the allegations levelled against few members of their fraternity during the riots, the traders have kept their shutters down

He appealed to the traders to re-open their shops since they would be provided full protection.

The traders will not be forced to re-open their shops, the Minister added.

"The incident is a challenge for the state government, and required efforts are being made to get to the root of the matter," Khan said.

Four persons were killed and 16 others injured after communal clashes broke out in Kosi Kalan, about 45 km from Mathura, on June 1, reportedly after a pedestrian used water meant for some religious purpose.

171 persons, including Agriculture Minister in the previous BSP regime, Choudhary Laxmi Narayan, and his brother Lekhraj Choudhary, an MLC, have been named in different cases registered after the riots.