Police foil panchayat meet in UP, ends in chaos

Violence erupted at Salempur village in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, about 500 kilometers from here, on Friday after police tried to foil the plan of the locals to hold a mahapanchayat over a love affair between a couple from different communities. 

Around a dozen people, including some cops, were injured in the clashes between villagers and police during which fires were exchanges. The people indulged in heavy stone pelting after the cops prevented them from reaching the venue of the panchayat, said sources.

Police made lathi charge and arrested six people in this regard. Security personnel in strength had been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. 

The situation was stated to be tense but under control. Violence erupted after people from nearby villages tried to reach the venue of the panchayat. 

The administration had already banned the panchayat and erected barricades to prevent people from reaching there.

The organisers of the panchayat had given an ultimatum to the police to hand over the girl to her family members by Thursday failing which they had declared that they would hold the panchayat. 

The decision to hold the panchayat triggered alarm bells in the administration and the officials were trying to hold discussions with the members of the two communities to peacefully resolve the matter.

Tension sparked off after a girl, who was a resident of Salempur village, had married a youth of other community following a brief affair. 

The marriage triggered tension between the two communities as the family of the girl vehemently opposed the relationship and demanded custody of the girl from the police, which had been approached later.