Violent clashes broke out in Saharanpur district of West Uttar Pradesh on Saturday over a land dispute between two communities. Even as curfew was imposed in three police station areas, two people died, while at least 20 others, including five policemen, were injured during the clashes in Kutubshehr area of Saharanpur.
Western Uttar Pradesh is burning again. Communal tension is simmering in the region, even as the state government offers lipservice against such repeated violence. On Saturday, at least two persons were killed and 20 injured after two groups belonging to two different minority communities clashed in Saharanpur district of western Uttar Pradesh. Beside civilians, a city magistrate and about half-adozen policemen were also injured.
Shops, petrol pump and government properties were burnt, prompting police action and deployment of paramilitary force. As the district administration rushed in with more troopers to control the situation, the grim reality of unabated violence clouded Saharanpur. In the end, the entire district was brought under curfew, with fear of more violence looming large on the region.
Saharanpur's violence too has attracted political reactions, more so with the Assembly by-election not far away. BJP blamed leaders of a particular community for the violence. "As Assembly by-election will be held in Saharanpur, some community leaders are trying to polarise a particular vote bank in their favour, and that is why they planned such a violent act to disturb the law and order. Also, the district police administration is to be blamed as they were aware of the tension and did not take necessary steps to prevent it," Saharanpur BJP MP Raghav Lakhan Pal, who was earlier the MLA from the area, told media persons.
