Desecration sparks tension, cops on alert at Muzaffarnagar's holy spots

As tension prevailed in Uttar Pradesh’s communally sensitive Muzaffarnagar district following acts of desecration at a temple the authorities have deployed security personnel around all the important religious places in the district.

Police sources here said a well known temple at Parsauli village in the district was desecrated twice in a span of 15 days triggering tension in the region. The first incident had taken place a fortnight ago while the second took place barely a few days back.

One cop was held hostage by angry villagers after pieces of animal flesh were found scattered on the temple premises recently. The idol inside the temple was also damaged, sources said.

The irate villagers staged demonstrations demanding arrest of the culprits.
An alert has been sounded in the entire district and in the nearby districts after the incidents, the sources said adding that the authorities have directed the district administrations to keep a close watch on the situation.

They admitted that tension persisted in the area following the desecration.
“We do not want to take any chances. We have deployed armed guards at every important religious place,” said a senior police official here.

The official said there seemed to be a ‘deliberate’ attempt to foment communal tension in the district.

“We are trying to identify the trouble mongers. Special teams have been set up to apprehend the culprits,” he added.

The district police authorities have also roped in some cops, who were deployed at the local police stations in the district in the past and were familiar with the area.
Muzaffarnagar had been rocked by large-scale communal riots last year in which over 60 people were killed and thousands were displaced and had to take shelter at riot relief camps.