Fear of communal flare-ups keeps UP govt on edge

Recurring  communal flare-ups in different parts of Uttar Pradesh have become a major cause for concern the Samajwadi Party government, especially keeping in view the ongoing holy month of Ramzan.

There have been reports of communal clashes taking place at Saharanpur, Meerut and some other districts in the last few days.

The officials feel that any such flare-up or minor clash between the two communities could turn into a major ones in no time.

“Muzaffarnagar is yet to become normal after the recent incidents of gang-rape of two women allegedly by youths belonging to a different community.

Some outfits have already threatened that they will take to the streets if all the culprits are not arrested,” a police officer told Deccan Herald.

Local BJP and Bhartiya Kisan Union leaders have demanded imposition of National Security Act on the culprits and warned of agitation if their demand was not met by the district administration.

Barely a few days back, a mentally challenged woman who was mother of seven children, had been gang-raped by several youths in Shahpur in the district triggering communal tension.

Hundreds of people from several villages had held a panchayat after the incident and thrashed the in-charge of Shahpur police station.

They also roughed up other policemen and district officials alleging attempts to hush up the matter.

Last year’s communal riots that had claimed 62 lives and left thousands homeless, had also sparked off after an incident of molestation of a girl by youths of a different community.

The situation in Kaanth in the communally sensitive Moradabad district also continues to be volatile after a series of protests by the Hindu outfits following alleged forcible removal of loudspeakers from a temple by police, he said.

Incidentally, the loudspeakers had been removed from the temple at Akbarpur Chaidari village in Kaanth following complaints from members of a particular community.

At least two incidents of communal clashes had been reported from Saharanpur and Meerut in the last three days, said the officer.

In Saharanpur, the clashes occurred following a dispute of playing music by a wedding party. The officers said security had been tightened in all communally sensitive districts in the state in view of the ongoing Ramzan.