RAF, PAC intensify vigil in Kasganj (UP); 80 arrested
Mohd Akram’s (left) suffered injuries while Chandan Gupta (right) was killed.
KASGANJ (UP): More then 80 persons were arrested while Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel intensified vigil today in strife-torn Kasganj which continued to be tense today.
Explosives were found during house to house searches following which the state police chief said that the stringent National Security Act (NSA) would be invoked against the culprits.
The Yogi Adityanath government, meanwhile, emphasised that none of the mischief mongers would be spared. At least three shops, two private buses and a car were torched here yesterday, after a young boy was killed in clashes following stone-pelting by a mob on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate the Republic Day.
“We are speaking to the people, the guilty are being arrested, intensive checking and house-to-house searches were undertaken. And this is the reason why the situation is absolutely under control,” DGP OP Singh said in Lucknow.
Asked whether any permission was taken for a ‘Tiranga Yatra’, the DGP said that no such nod was required. “January 26 (Republic Day) is a national festival, and no permission is needed.
“So far more than 80 persons have been arrested. Houseto-house searches are going on. During the searches explosives were found. ” he said.
The clashes in Western Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj town have led to tragedy for three families — one of them lost a 22-year-old while two others have their loved ones recovering in local hospitals.
Chandan Gupta died of a bullet injury in the clashes that broke out during a “Tiranga bike rally” by activists of the RSS-backed students’ group, ABVP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. He was participating in the rally.
Buses, cars, shops were burnt down in Kasganj following clashes
A cellphone video of the rally accessed by a TV Channel shows hundreds of young men, many holding saffron flags, standing at one of the streets.
In the video, they could be heard saying they won’t change route. Slogans were being shouted, that said everyone will have to say “Vande Mataram” if they wish to live in India.
Naushad, a laborer who was on his home from his work, got caught in the crossfire. A bullet hit his leg. “I could not react in time. Before I knew it, I felt a deep pain in my leg,” said Naushad, who is at a local hospital. Doctors say he is out of danger.
Lakhimpur Kheri resident Mohd Akram was driving his car through the Kasganj town on Friday night , on his way to Aligarh to meet his pregnant wife who is due for surgery soon . A mob set upon his car, dragged him out and tried to gouge out his eye. He somehow managed to escape.
His eye has been operated upon at a hospital in Aligarh, where he is still admitted. “I never imagined something like this could happen,” Mr Akram said. He said he saw the mob but in the darkness, thought they were cops. “Soon that mob set on me. I folded my hands and pleaded with them. But they assaulted me. After beating me and threatening to set my car on fire, they let me go. I guess some of them had some sanity left,” he said.( With Agency Inputs ).
