Communal violence, gunfight in Saharanpur village over Ambedkar Jayanti procession; many hurt

  • | Thursday | 20th April, 2017

Meerut: Tension prevailed in Doodhli village of Saharanpur following heavy stone-pelting and firing between members of two communities over Ambedkar Jayanti procession in the area on Thursday. Regarding the violence at the village or at the SSP's residence, no BJP worker was involved in these incidents. Soon, BJP workers, including Saharanpur MP Raghav Lakhanpal also reached the spot and demanded that police should allow the procession to pas through the village. The angry protesters also thrashed a Muslim man and torched his motorcycle on an adjacent road.The dharna at the SSP residence continued till late in the evening. But the groups were adamant on taking out the yatra, and a large crowd entered the village on Thursday.

Meerut: Tension prevailed in Doodhli village of Saharanpur following heavy stone-pelting and firing between members of two communities over Ambedkar Jayanti procession in the area on Thursday. A number of shops were targeted while a few vehicles, including those of the media and the police, were also damaged. Scores of youths, including two policemen, were reportedly injured. Heavy police force was rushed to the spot and managed to control the situation. The district magistrate (DM) and the senior superintendent of police (SSP) also rushed to the area to take stock of the situation. But despite their best efforts, violence continued to recur at regular intervals during the day.According to sources, the moment the procession began in the village, another group blocked the route with a tractor following which the two groups engaged in stone-pelting, and there was firing from both sides. Soon, BJP workers, including Saharanpur MP Raghav Lakhanpal also reached the spot and demanded that police should allow the procession to pas through the village. Police refused to accept their demand following which the procession was forcefully called off.According to SSP Love Kumar, “Some groups had sought permission from the administration to take out a 'shobha yatra', but permission was not given as it was for the first time that nod for such an activity in the area was sought. According to the orders given to us, no new tradition is supposed to take place in communally sensitive regions. But the groups were adamant on taking out the yatra, and a large crowd entered the village on Thursday. This led to a law and order problem. We manged to control the situation as adequate police force was present and prevented the yatra from continuing.”Later, the SSP residence was also targeted by the crowd, which was allegedly led by MP Lakhanpal. The protesters resorted to vandalism and also broke SSP Love Kumar’s nameplate on the gate of the residence. The angry protesters also thrashed a Muslim man and torched his motorcycle on an adjacent road.The dharna at the SSP residence continued till late in the evening. It was only after elaborate talk between the MP and the IG of Meerut zone that the protest was called off.Speaking to TOI, MP Lakhanpal said, "I don't understand why that administration was so adamant in not allowing the procession. Baba Ambedkar is only next to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. The problem is that we still have a Samajwadi Party-appointed administration which is not able to change its mindset after the change of guard in the state. Regarding the violence at the village or at the SSP's residence, no BJP worker was involved in these incidents. SP and BSP supporters indulged in violence to malign our (BJP's) image."

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