Fresh Violence: Shops, buses burnt in UP’s Kasganj after youth dies in rally
KASGANJ (UP):Fresh violence erupted in western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday after a group of people went on to protest the death of a youth on Friday at a motorcycle rally by VHP and ABVP volunteers. After the youth’s cremation on Saturday, a group of people went on a rampage and vandalised shops and also torched two buses in Kasganj.
Chandan Gupta, 22, had died in clashes that broke out on Friday during a “Tiranga bike rally” by activists of the RSS-backed students’ group, ABVP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Another person injured in the communal clashes, Naushad, is admitted to hospital. According to reports, both had bullet injuries.
The police said some unidentified miscreants hurled stones at the motorcycle rally taken out by the right-wing groups to celebrate the Republic Day. The district magistrate, superintendent of police, and Rapid Action Force and PAC personnel have been sent to the spot”. “The trouble makers are being identified, and stringent action will be initiated against them.
The incidents of vandalism on Saturday – a car was torched late in the evening also – were seen as a reaction to Chandan Gupta’s death.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had yesterday responded swiftly to the death of the young man and appealed to both communities to maintain peace.
Senior police officers from western UP were also rushed to the town 170 km from the national capital. The police’s drone camera team was also requisitioned from Aligarh to help the police keep a watch on sensitive areas of the town.
In the background, some voices can be heard saying that they would not change their route. Someone else raises the slogan that everyone would have to say Vande Mataram if they want to stay in India.
The clashes on Friday happened after stones were reportedly pelted on the motorcycle rally taken out by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad volunteers as part of celebrations on the 69th Republic Day.
“Anti-social elements today tried to set on fire a small shop on the city’s outskirts… Some of the anti-social elements have been taken into custody, while others were chased away,” Additional DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said.( With Agency Inputs ).
