Violence hits Saharanpur again, one killed, many injured

One person was killed and over a dozen others, including a senior cop, injured in a violent clash between two groups in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, about 500 kilometres from here, on Friday.
 
According to the police sources here, violence sparked off during a procession being taken out by members of 'thakur' community from Sabbirpur village.
 
Police officials said that members of dalit community objected to the playing of DJ and asked the processionists to shut it off as they passed from near a Ravidas Temple.
 
Soon an altercation ensued and the two sides indulged in heavy stone pelting. Shots were also fired during the clashes and a 26-year old youth, identified as Sunil Singh, was hit by a bullet. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead.
 
Enraged over the killing, a large mob torched several houses of dalits in the village and also set fire several police and other vehicles. Over a dozen people, including a senior police officer, were injured in the clashes.
 
Security personnel in strength had been deployed to maintain order, police said adding that senior officials were camping on the spot to monitor the situation.
 
This is the second incident of violence in Saharanpur within a fortnight. A few days back, communal clashes had broken out in the district during a procession to celebrate Ambedkar birth anniversary.
 
Around a dozen people were injured in clashes, that erupted after the other community objected to the procession. BJP MP from Saharanpur Raghav Lakhanpal was among those booked in connection with the violence.