The Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday posted a seizure notice on the house of Chandan Gupta, whose death on January 26 had sparked communal clashes in Kasganj district, ANI reported.
The police’s move came on a day when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath warned those behind the violence. “Our government is committed to provide security to each and every citizen,” PTI quoted Adityanath as saying. “Those spreading anarchy will not be spared. Strict action will be taken against the perpetrators of violence.”
Fresh violence had broken out in Kasganj on Monday night when a shop was set on fire by unidentified men. The incident, which took place around 10.30 pm in Indira Market area, set alarm bells ringing for the district administration that had earlier claimed that the situation was getting back to normal. Police vigil had to be intensified after the incident.
Inspector General of Police (Aligarh) Sanjeev Gupta described the incident as a “guerrilla style-attack”. He said the unidentified men had entered the shop from the back entrance and caught the owner unawares, following which they ransacked the shop and set it on fire.
“However, unlike other instances, there was no mob involved in this incident. It was a smaller group of men,” Gupta said.
The police have registered a case in connection with the fresh violence, which brings the total number of cases pertaining to the communal violence in Kasganj to six. Gupta also said that a Special Investigation Team has been constituted to probe the clashes in Kasganj, besides a magisterial inquiry, ANI reported.
Violence broke out in the Uttar Pradesh town on January 26 when a group of bike-borne men, believed to be associated with Hindutva groups, disrupted a Republic Day programme in a Muslim-dominated colony. They came waving saffron flags and the Indian tricolour and got involved in heated arguments with the residents of the colony.
The first incident of gunfire exchange took place later on Friday in another locality, which led to the death of one person, identified as Chandan Gupta alias Abhishek. Sporadic instances of arson (pictured above) and rioting continued in the town over the next two days. The situation was relatively stable on Sunday.
More than 112 persons have been taken into custody in connection with the violent incidents. IG Gupta said 10 persons have been arrested in connection with the murder case of Chandan Gupta, but the prime accused is still absconding.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Police transferred the current Superintendent of Police (Kasganj) Sunil Kumar to the Police Training College in Meerut on Monday.
Pakistan supporters responsible, claims BJP leader
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vinay Katiyar on Tuesday said people who support Pakistan were behind the violence in Kasganj, ANI reported. Claiming that this was the first such incident in the state since Chief Minister Adityanath took charge, Katiyar said, “Some miscreants, who support Pakistan, and will go to any extent to defy the tricolour. They need to be dealt with strictly”.
These miscreants raise pro-Pakistan slogans, he added.
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