Communal tension in a Sambhal village

Sambhal (UP): After Saharanapur and Gonda, communal tension gripped Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh today after some people created a ruckus in Nandrauli village here.

According to police, tension prevailed in the village after some people created a ruckus, claiming that a man had eloped with a married woman from another faith.

Yesterday, some people damaged a motorcycle belonging to a member of another community over the issue in Gunnaur area here.

Cross FIRs were lodged in the case by both the sides, police said.

Circle Officer Umesh Yadav said additional security personnel have been deployed in the village and a probe is on in the matter. "No one will be allowed to vitiate law and order," he said.

Meanwhile, the UP Police in an official statement today said, "As many as six persons have been arrested in this regard."

Yesterday, four persons were injured in Gonda district and some vehicles damaged following a clash between people belonging to two communities.

"A boy was beaten by a few persons following which tension prevailed in Tarabganj area. In the clash four persons were injured and two vehicles were also damaged," Superintendent of Police, Gonda, Sudhir Kumar Singh said.

Heavy police force was rushed to the spot to control the situation.

Police today said that 13 persons have been arrested in this connection.

On May 9, a police chowki (outpost) was burnt in Saharanpur and more than 20 vehicles torched while several instances of stone pelting and clashes were reported, as violent protests and caste-based violence engulfed the district.

According to police, an organisation of Dalits sought to hold a 'mahapanchayat' in the Gandhi Park in Saharanpur to demand compensation and relief for those affected in an inter-caste clash last week.

Senior Superintendent of Police Subhash Chand Dubey said that the district administration had not permitted any such gathering.

Police acted against the people gathered for the 'mahapanchayat' which led to tension and a stampede-like situation, it is learnt.

UP Police in an official release today said, "As many as 31 persons have been arrested so far."

Around 20-25 youths of upper caste Thakur community from Shabbirpur village were on their way to Simlana village under Badgaon police station to take part in a function to garland the statue of Rajput warrior-king Maharana Pratap (on May 9), when the Dalit locals objected to the loud music being played by them.

A police report sent to the state headquarters here said the Dalits objected to the "raucous" celebration, triggering an exchange of words.

It soon snowballed into a full-blown clash with both the groups throwing stones and bricks at each other, it added.

The Dalits asked the percussionists to turn off the music blaring out of loudspeakers as they passed by a Ravidas temple.

The incident led to more violence and there was brickbatting and arson, while 15 to 20 Dalit houses were torched and many vehicles including those of the police, torched.

As many as 16 persons, including a police officer, were injured in the resulting clashes.

Of them, Sumit Rajput (35) later succumbed to his injuries.