Central intelligence agencies are closely tracking the activities of radical groups who are partaking in rumour and hate-mongering in the wake of the communal clashes in Kasganj. It is feared that the flare up could spread to other parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Amid communal tension swelling and a lot of misinformation doing the rounds, the Union home ministry has asked the UP government for a report on the Kasganj violence and the current situation, sources said. "The Home Ministry has asked the state government to send a comprehensive report about the violence that started last Friday and the steps taken to restore peace in Kasganj and its adjoining areas," said a government official.
Four days after the clashes broke out on Republic Day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath finally broke his silence and instructed senior police officers to initiate strict action against those who indulged in the firing and violence in Kasganj.
"Those spreading anarchy will not be spared. Strict action will be taken against those who indulged in violence," warned the chief minister, speaking to journalists in Gorakhpur.
Meanwhile, firebrand BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Vinay Katiyar claimed that pro-Pakistani supporters had incited communal violence in Kasganj which led to the death of a Hindu youth.
"They have no respect for the Tricolour, except Pakistan's."
"There was no communal violence in Kasganj in the past. All communities lived in peace and harmony. But some Pro-Pakistani supporters went there, raised pro-Pak slogans and defied Tiranga Yatra, which led to communal clashes and killing of Chandan Gupta. Strict action needs to be initiated against them," said Katiyar.
The clashes took place when the bike rally had to be halted due the ongoing Republic Day celebrations in a Muslim locality where the residents had planned a get together and the road was temporarily blocked for some time. Shops, buses and cars were torched during the clashes that followed.
As many as 118 people have been arrested in connection with the violence while security forces were maintaining a tight vigil.
On Monday night, another attempt was made to flare up violence when a mob set a shop on fire on Maalgodaam Road in Kasganj. A few miscreants tried to vandalise a religious place in Amanpur area on Tuesday. But the police used mild force to disperse the mob and control the situation.
Eleven out of 20 named in the murder of Chandan Gupta have been arrested so far. The police have released pictures of three accused Naseem, Waseem and Saleem who are on the run. "A special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the murder and those behind the violence," said IG Aligarh Range Sanjeev Gupta.
After markets, the District Magistrate R.P.Singh ordered for the schools and colleges to re-open from Tuesday.
The BJP MLA from Kasganj Devendra Rajput has written a letter to the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding martyr status for Chandan Gupta and a government job for the family members of the deceased. Chandan's father and other relatives have sat on a dharna since Tuesday till their demands are met.
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