MUZAFFARNAGAR BOILING WITH RAGE, 10 MORE DIE
Monday, 09 September 2013 | Anup Verma | Muzaffarnagar
Communal tension between majority and minority communities in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh refused to abate with fresh cases of violence on Sunday.
With at least 10 more deaths on Sunday, the toll has risen to 21, amid allegations of complicity by the State Government. However, locals claimed that more than 50 people have been killed so far.
Firing continued on Saturday night in minority-dominated areas like Bhura, Nishad, Shahpur, Nagla Bujurg, Kutba Kutbi and Khalapal, despite deployment of the Army, paramilitary and State police forces. Tension gripped the neighbouring districts of Meerut in the east and Shamli in the west of Muzaffarnagar. With violence spreading to rural areas, hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes and take refuge in police stations. Villagers told The Pioneer that local leaders, mostly belonging to the ruling party, added fuel to the fire.
On Sunday, violence continued to spiral and tension gripped the entire Western UP. The Army staged flag marches and thousands of anti-riot police personnel were deployed to restore law & order.
As a precautionary measure, Army troops were also stationed in Meerut and Shamli as two persons were reported to be killed in violence in Meerut. In Kutba, where four people were killed, mobs set ablaze a religious place, several shops and vehicles. In Phugana village, cops said three members of a community had taken shelter in a police station, fearing violence.
“As it (violence) is going on in several villages, it is taking time to defuse the situation,” said Additional Director General of Police Arun Kumar, who took stock of the situation in the affected areas. District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that 21 people died in the violence. He said shoot at sight orders have been issued to control the situation and avert recurrence of any untoward situation. Officials said apart from the Army, 10,000 Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel, 1,300 CRPF men and 1,200 Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed.
Though the district administration had prohibited locals to come out from their houses but signs of loot, arson, stone pelting and firings were reported from most parts of the city.
Victims said that hooligans from the minority community prevented security personnel from entering their areas claiming to have patronage from local politicians.
Areas like Prakash Chowk, Almathpur, Shiv Chowk, Khalapur, Hanuman Chowk, Shamli Road, Gaushala Mohalla, Rampur, Krishnapuri, Abupura, Mimala Road, Almaspur, Minakshi Chowk, where a reporter and a cameraman were killed on Saturday, Joli village, Kutba-Kutbi area, Shahpur, Kawal village, Kacchi Sadak chowk, Civil Lines area, Ahilya Chowk, Khalapal, Ladawala, Mallupur, Nagla Bujurg, Gurjua Chungi, Najipura, Dallupura, Bhura, Nishad, Basi village are worst affected. 30 people have been arrested so far, while cases have been registered against 300 people.
Considering gravity of the matter, senior officials of UP Government, who were posted in the district earlier, have also been called back to and have been holding dialogues with the locals to bring back normalcy.
Meanwhile, locals accused the district administration of protecting the perpetrators. “The officials are shielding the minority community. The local politicians too have been moving around freely in the minority-dominated villages and fomenting tension,” said Gopal Kumar, a resident of Hanuman Chowk in Muzaffarnagar.
Local traders and businessman blamed police complicity for the volatile situation. “They (minority) have become fearless. In last one year, there have been several instances of communal clashes but the administration remains a mute spectator,” said a local trader preferring anonymity.
On August 27, violence erupted between two communities over the alleged molestation of girl followed by the killing of two youths. The siblings of the victim killed the accused and in retaliation both siblings were also stabbed to death. The same day, the UP Government transferred the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) for dereliction of duty. On Saturday, violence erupted again in the city when hooligans attacked over hundred persons going to participate in a panchayat.
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MUZAFFARNAGAR/LUCKNOW: The spiral of violence triggered by killings last month spread to Muzaffarnagar's far flung rural areas on Sunday, killing 16 more people, taking the number of those consumed by the conflagration to 27. With more than 40 people injured, many critically, the toll could increase, officials said.
Uttar Pradesh governor B L Joshi sent a report to centre on Muzaffarnagar violence. In his report Governor Joshi has reportedly blamed state govt for failing to maintain peace in state. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav intervened and held meeting with officers along with chief minister Akhilesh Singh Yadav.
The Army staged flag marches in several places in the district, and thousands of anti-riot police personnel were deployed to restore order, but the odds of patrolling outlying villages came in the way of controlling the frenzy until 2pm, by which time much blood was shed.
Among the worst-hit villages was Kutba, where four people were killed, with mobs setting a place of worship on fire and gutting several shops and vehicles, said the police. Thousands of people sought refuge in police stations while others hid in sugarcane fields and fighting pitched battles across Muzaffarnagar district, 130km from Delhi, on Sunday.
At least 52 people have been arrested for the clashes that have been brewing since a boy was killed by two brothers in Kawal village on August 27 after he allegedly tried to molest their sister.
'Firing can be ordered to check riots'
In one place Army jawans were fired at after which the soldiers returned fire. UP home secretary Kamal Saxena said all directives have been given to control the violence. "If necessary, firing can be done," he said. All entry points to Muzaffarnagar including UP-Uttarakhand borders have been sealed to prevent rioters and inciters from entering the district.
Intelligence inputs apprehend the possibility of violence spreading to Meerut, Ghaziabad and Saharanpur if unchecked, and the UP government has tightened security in these districts as also in Saharanpur and Bijnore after communal tension was reported from these districts. "We've asked officials to check rumor-mongering about communal incidents," said a top administration official.
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"Since many of the injured have suffered multiple, deep gun-shot and stab wounds on their vital parts, chances of their survival are low. An increase in death toll can't be ruled out," a senior medical officer in Muzaffarnagar district hospital told TOI. Of those injured in government hospitals, the condition of nine is stated to be critical.
Officials said apart from the Army, 10,000 Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel, 1,300 CRPF and 1,200 Rapid Action Force jawans have been deployed.
"As the violence is going on in several villages, it is taking time to defuse the situation," UP's additional director general of police Arun Kumar told agencies after taking stock of the affected areas.
A senior IAS officer said indefinite curfew continued in Muzaffarnagar's three communal-prone areas, Nai Mandi, Civil Lines, and Shahar Kotwali, after 11 people including IBN-7's part-time reporter Rajesh Verma (44) were killed on Saturday. He said more than 50 people were arrested for violating the curfew orders.
"We've booked them for breaching peace," said a senior police officer. The body of Rajesh Verma, shot in the line of duty in Shahar Kotwali by unidentified people, was cremated here on Sunday.
In Lucknow, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh held meeting with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, chief secretary Jawed Usmani and principal secretary, home, RM Srivastava. The government dispatched eight Army columns to Muzaffarnagar and kept one each in Shamli and Meerut as reserves.
"The Army has formed the first line of security with the police, while 28 companies of state and Central paramilitary forces have been deputed to other trouble hit areas," said Arun Kumar. At least three police circles of Muzaffarnagar city remained under curfew on Saturday.
Communal tension hit Muzaffarnagar after a youth was murdered by two youth from another community following alleged eve-teasing in Kawal on August 27. The next day, BJP gave a call for strike in the district. Incidents of violence were reported during the strike. Later, police booked 229 people, including BJP MLA Sangit Some, for allegedly sharing on the internet sensitive photographs related to the Kawal violence. A fake video of a mob beating up two youth to death also surfaced on YouTube.
Within days, the Centre issued an alert to seven states, including UP, warning against communal polarization and violence ahead of general elections. UP has seen a spike in communal violence since the Samajwadi Party came to power in March last year.
Uttar Pradesh governor B L Joshi sent a report to centre on Muzaffarnagar violence. In his report Governor Joshi has reportedly blamed state govt for failing to maintain peace in state. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav intervened and held meeting with officers along with chief minister Akhilesh Singh Yadav.
The Army staged flag marches in several places in the district, and thousands of anti-riot police personnel were deployed to restore order, but the odds of patrolling outlying villages came in the way of controlling the frenzy until 2pm, by which time much blood was shed.
Among the worst-hit villages was Kutba, where four people were killed, with mobs setting a place of worship on fire and gutting several shops and vehicles, said the police. Thousands of people sought refuge in police stations while others hid in sugarcane fields and fighting pitched battles across Muzaffarnagar district, 130km from Delhi, on Sunday.
At least 52 people have been arrested for the clashes that have been brewing since a boy was killed by two brothers in Kawal village on August 27 after he allegedly tried to molest their sister.
'Firing can be ordered to check riots'
In one place Army jawans were fired at after which the soldiers returned fire. UP home secretary Kamal Saxena said all directives have been given to control the violence. "If necessary, firing can be done," he said. All entry points to Muzaffarnagar including UP-Uttarakhand borders have been sealed to prevent rioters and inciters from entering the district.
Intelligence inputs apprehend the possibility of violence spreading to Meerut, Ghaziabad and Saharanpur if unchecked, and the UP government has tightened security in these districts as also in Saharanpur and Bijnore after communal tension was reported from these districts. "We've asked officials to check rumor-mongering about communal incidents," said a top administration official.
"Since many of the injured have suffered multiple, deep gun-shot and stab wounds on their vital parts, chances of their survival are low. An increase in death toll can't be ruled out," a senior medical officer in Muzaffarnagar district hospital told TOI. Of those injured in government hospitals, the condition of nine is stated to be critical.
Officials said apart from the Army, 10,000 Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel, 1,300 CRPF and 1,200 Rapid Action Force jawans have been deployed.
"As the violence is going on in several villages, it is taking time to defuse the situation," UP's additional director general of police Arun Kumar told agencies after taking stock of the affected areas.
A senior IAS officer said indefinite curfew continued in Muzaffarnagar's three communal-prone areas, Nai Mandi, Civil Lines, and Shahar Kotwali, after 11 people including IBN-7's part-time reporter Rajesh Verma (44) were killed on Saturday. He said more than 50 people were arrested for violating the curfew orders.
"We've booked them for breaching peace," said a senior police officer. The body of Rajesh Verma, shot in the line of duty in Shahar Kotwali by unidentified people, was cremated here on Sunday.
In Lucknow, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh held meeting with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, chief secretary Jawed Usmani and principal secretary, home, RM Srivastava. The government dispatched eight Army columns to Muzaffarnagar and kept one each in Shamli and Meerut as reserves.
"The Army has formed the first line of security with the police, while 28 companies of state and Central paramilitary forces have been deputed to other trouble hit areas," said Arun Kumar. At least three police circles of Muzaffarnagar city remained under curfew on Saturday.
Communal tension hit Muzaffarnagar after a youth was murdered by two youth from another community following alleged eve-teasing in Kawal on August 27. The next day, BJP gave a call for strike in the district. Incidents of violence were reported during the strike. Later, police booked 229 people, including BJP MLA Sangit Some, for allegedly sharing on the internet sensitive photographs related to the Kawal violence. A fake video of a mob beating up two youth to death also surfaced on YouTube.
Within days, the Centre issued an alert to seven states, including UP, warning against communal polarization and violence ahead of general elections. UP has seen a spike in communal violence since the Samajwadi Party came to power in March last year.
Muzaffarnagar violence toll climbs to 26, UP Governor blames Akhilesh govt | |
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 Securitymen shift people of a village to a safer place to avoid further clashes in Muzaffarnagar. Photo: PTI. The Army staged flag marches in several places in the district. However, thousands of anti-riot police personnel were deployed to restore the law and order situation. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Governor B.L. Joshi has slammed the Akhilesh Yadav government's handling of the riot situation in Muzaffarnagar. While forwarding the state's report on the situation following the riots to the Centre, the Governor in his comments has said that the state government failed to act despite being warned earlier. The Centre had sought a report from the state government on the situation.  Security forces arrive following communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar district. Photo: AP. The villages are still volatile. 11 deaths were reported from the district even after the deployment of the Army. While the urban stretches have been brought under control, the villages are still tense. There were reports of violence from neighbouring Meerut as well. The restive areas are now a fortress with the deployment of 19 companies of PAC, 14 of RAF, 19 of CRPF and 4 of ITBP. There are 4 IG rank officers, 3 SPs, 18 ASPs and 119 sub-inspectors on duty doing round the clock monitoring of the situation.  Army conducts a flag march following communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar. Photo: AP. Saxena said that adequate force has been deployed in the affected areas and incidents of violence have been reported from Sisauli, Shahpur, Kalapar and Dhaurakala areas of Muzaffarnagar. At one place, Army had to resort to firing after someone opened fire at them, he said. Asked whether shoot-at-sight orders have been given, the Home Secretary said that directives have been issued to control the situation and for that if necessary firing can be done. - with PTI inputs |
| http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/muzaffarnagar-violence-toll-climbs-to-26-up-governor-blames-akhilesh-govt/1/308926.html Muzaffarnagar riots: Why ‘secular’ SP is really communal by Dhiraj Nayyar Sep 9, 2013 Mulayam Singh Yadav wears secularism on his sleeve. So how does he square that with the communal murder and mayhem in Muzaffarnagar that has already cost 30 lives? Or indeed in several other pockets of Uttar Pradesh over the last one year even as his son and sundry relatives preside over the administration in Lucknow? It’s simple. For Mulayam, and for his fellow travellers across the political spectrum, secularism is not as much a constitutional principle as an instrument of political power. In principle, all that secularism requires is a complete detachment of the state and religion, even as the state protects every individual’s right to worship their own faith. In India, the state has always dabbled in religion, whether by subsidising Haj pilgrims, passing legislation on religion-based civil law or by managing temple trusts. Secularism in India is practised quite differently, as the matter of protecting the life and property of minority communities against alleged majoritarian excess. Now, the protection of the life and property of every individual (including minorities) irrespective of religion and other such identities is a different principle from secularism. Syria’s Bashar-al-Assad is staunchly secular but doesn’t hesitate to brutalise a section of his citizens. Saddam Hussein was secular too, but cared little for his citizens’ life and limb. And then there are countries, like the United Kingdom, which are not secular (The Queen is the Head of the Church of England) but where individual and religious freedom is a reality. For secularism to serve its political purpose in India there needs to be a perpetual fear in the minds of minorities about a potential threat to their lives and property from the majority. It suits politicians of all colour to allow this fear to simmer because they can then fashion themselves as saviours. That is why the Samajwadi Party has been pussyfooting about the communal violence in its backyard for several months. Needless to say, this is a dangerous game. Politicians assume that they can close the lid when the simmer comes to boil. Mulayam Singh Yadav’s recent admonishing of Akhilesh Yadav is a case in point as things began to get out of hand in Muzaffarnagar. But at some point, like in Muzaffarnagar, the toll (in terms of human lives) begins to rise sharply as violence cascades. Associated Press Politics is the art of the possible. The Samajwadi Party is desperate. It has singularly failed to provide governance in UP. Its political trajectory is heading south. But it wants to see itself as a King-maker after the next General Election. It is, therefore, trying to shore up its core vote among the state’s Muslims. The Durga Shakti Nagpal episode last month was a perfect example of such cynical politics, where an honest IAS office was painted by politicians as a communal fanatic who destroyed the wall of a mosque. Unfortunately, the run up to the General Election will witness more of this dangerous game. Beyond Mulayam and the SP, the Congress, also desperate after a second term spent in corruption and misgovernance, will build up a fear factor around the BJP and their Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and then claim to be the sole guardian of ‘secularism’. This, they hope, will consolidate minority votes for Congress. Of course, Modi and the BJP carry the baggage of majoritarianism and they haven’t ever dumped it convincingly enough, giving the SP and Congress a window to exploit. Still, let’s face it. The SP and Congress don’t practise true secularism. They just use it as an instrument of political power. In the end it is just communalism by a different name. http://www.firstpost.com/politics/muzaffarnagar-riots-why-secular-sp-is-really-communal-1093927.html Army stages flag march in Muzaffarnagar, toll climbs to 26 As the death toll in the clash between members of two communities rose to 26, including a TV reporter, the Army on Sunday staged a flag march in riot-hit areas in Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh even as 52 persons have been arrested for the violence. Curfew remained in force in Civil Lines, Kotwali and Nai Mandi areas of the district with Army carrying out a flag march in the troubled areas. Five companies of PAC and as many of RAF and police have also been deployed. Meanwhile, Kamal Saxena,UP Home Secretary on Muzaffarnagar violence said, 52 people have been arrested by police. The situation in the entire district is under control now.” “Clashes took place in rural areas, urban areas much calmer but schools, colleges will remain closed for three days,” he further added. Facing flak from the Opposition over Muzaffarnagar communal clashes, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday held a meeting with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Ministers and senior officials. Yadav held the meeting at his residence this afternoon in which Chief Secretary Javed Usmani, Principal Secretary Home RM Srivastava and several Ministers were also present, sources said. Expressing displeasure over spurt in violence, Yadav asked them to ensure that law and order is maintained in the State. Earlier in the day, Muzaffarnagar’s District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, ”Twelve people have been killed in the clashes and the toll is expected to rise as some people are missing. Police is searching for them.” The bodies of two persons were recovered from Bhopa Police Station area this morning and one from Chapar Police station. Arun Kumar, ADG, Law and Order said the “Situation is totally under control. No unlawful incident has been reported so far since last night. Army has been deployed, they have started with a flag march”. “Since Saturday night we have arrested around 30 persons and we hope the situation will remain under control,” he said, adding the District Magistrate and the SP have been given special instructions to deal with the situation with “soft hands”. Tension has been running high in the district since three persons were killed in Kawal village on August 27. On Saturday, nine persons, including a TV channel journalist, were killed and 34 injured in clashes. IBN7 channel’s part-time correspondent Rajesh Verma and a photographer hired by police, Israr, were among those killed in the violence. Saturday’s violence curred as a meeting was being held in Naglabadhod in defiance of prohibitory orders to demand withdrawal of cases registered in connection with August 27 violence in Kawal. Giving details about the clashes in the district, Kumar said, “There was an incident in a village of Muzaffarngar two days ago and a fake video related to murder of two persons in a village was uploaded on the Internet. “We blocked that particular video but unfortunately the CDs were circulated in the village. One particular community gave call for mahapanchayat and created law and order situation. “When people started coming from villages, communal clashes took place at two places. When the tension was visible, people were asked to disperse. While they were dispersing, there was political violence in the district,” Kumar said. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had on Saturday said that those behind the clashes will not be spared. He said senior officials, both in Muzaffarnagar and Lucknow, are working to restore peace and are keeping a vigil on the situation there. The Uttar Pradesh Government had on Saturday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh to the kin of the TV journalist and Rs 10 lakh to the family of others who were killed in clashes between members of two communities in Muzaffarnagar. (With inputs from agencies) http://www.niticentral.com/2013/09/08/army-stages-flag-march-in-muzaffarnagar-toll-climbs-to-12-130257.html |