Mathura: A former Uttar Pradesh minister and his MLC brother were among 156 people booked in connection with the communal clashes at Kosi Kalan town that claimed four lives and left 16 others injured, police said on Monday.
Agriculture Minister in the previous BSP regime, Choudhary Laxmi Narayan and his brother Lekhraj Choudhary, an MLC, have been charged with armed assault, instigating violence, loot, arson, attempt to murder and conspiracy, a police spokesperson said.
Lekhraj, however, refuted the charges, saying "Normalcy cannot be restored by implicating innocent. It is surprising that I have been implicated in Kosi Kalan riots while I was attending Assembly at the time of riots."
Four persons were killed and 16 others injured in the communal clashes that broke out in Kosi Kalan, about 45 km from Mathura, on Friday, reportedly after a pedestrian used water meant for some religious purpose.
Meanwhile, curfew was today relaxed for four hours in two parts in the riot-hit town.
Further relaxation in the curfew would be given tomorrow between 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM, District Magistrate Alok Shekhar Tewari, who replaced outgoing D M Sanjai Kumar last evening said.
PTI
