Mathura clashes: Two cops, 22 agitators killed; will invoke NSA against main accused Ram Vraksha Yadav, says UP DGP

When Mathura was burning, MP Hema Malini was uploading shoot pics on social media.

Mathura: Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Javeed Ahmed on Friday confirmed that twenty-four people, including an SP and an SHO, were killed in Thursday's clash between police and encroachers during an anti-encroachment drive in Mathura district.

Addressing a press conference, Ahmed said Superintendent of Police (City) Mukul Dwivedi and Farha Station House Officer (SHO) Santosh Kumar Yadav were martyred in the clashes.

He said besides the two cops, all twenty-two people were the one who indulged in arson.

The DGP said 124 people have been arrested on charges of causing loss to government property and murder. 196 more have been arrested under Section 153 offences, he added.

The police will invoke National Security Act (NSA) against Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi leader Ram Vraksha Yadav, Chandan Gaur, the security officer and two other prominent members of the group, Ahmed informed.

Ram Vraksha Yadav and Chandan Gaur managed to flee along with thousands of their supporters.

The top cop hailed the locals, who helped the police in nabbing some of the culprits.

The UP DGP informed that 23 policemen are admitted to hospitals, who were injured in the violence.

“47 locally made 'katta' pistols, six rifles and 178 live cartridges were seized,” the DGP said.

The violence had erupted when police were trying to evict illegal occupants, believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, from Jawahar Bagh yesterday on the directions of the Allahabad High Court.

The encroachers threw hand-grenades and bombs at the police and beat up many of them.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has ordered a probe into the incident. He assured of strict action against the culprits.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called CM Yadav, assuring him all possible help from the Centre.

"Spoke to UP CM Shri @yadavakhilesh and reviewed the situation in Mathura. I have also assured him of all possible help from the Centre," Singh tweeted.

Expressing grave concern over the Mathura violence, the Congress party on Friday cornered the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) castigated the violent clashes between the police and illegal occupants of a land in Mathura and slammed the UP government for not being able to maintain law and order situation in the state.