Mathura violence: Police wasn't fully prepared, had no idea about arms, ammunition possessed by encroachers, says Akhilesh Yadav

24 people, including an SP and an SHO, have been killed in yesterday's massive clash between police and members of a sect in Mathura.

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday admitted that the police was not fully prepared to take on the members of a section who had encroached on government land in Mathura's Jawahar Bagh area.

While speaking to the media, the Samajwadi Party leader said that the police should have gone to the area with full preparation; it had no idea about the arms and ammunition possessed by the agitators, who were believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi.

Justifying police action against the perpetrators of the Mathura violence, the UP CM said the administration had made several attempts to hold discussions, even issued warnings, yet they didn't evacuate the government land, so the police action was necessitated.

Yadav said matter will be investigated at the Commissioner level and all those found guilty will be brought to justice.

Yadav assured of "strict action" against the perpetrators of the Mathura violence, which claimed 24 lives including those of two policemen.

"Uttar Pradesh government will ensure the strictest action under law against the perpetrators in the Mathura incident, speedy prosecution of the accused," tweeted the Chief Minister.

Yadav also promised to support the families of the killed police officers.

On Thursday evening, protesters opened fire at a police team when it went to Jawahar Bagh area in Mathura to get it evicted following the orders of Allahabad High Court.

24 people, including an SP and an SHO, were killed in yesterday's massive clash between police and members of a section who had encroached on government land here, even as tension prevailed in the area with police seizing a large cache of ammunition from the site and arresting 320 people.

Over two years ago, activists of splinter group of Baba Jai Gurudeo had occupied hundreds of acres of land of Jawahar Bagh on the pretext of 'dharna'.

Their demands included "cancellation" of election of President and Prime Minister of India, replacement of existing currency with 'Azad Hind Fauj' currency, sale of diesel at the rate of 60 litres for one rupee and petrol at the rate of 40 litres for one rupee.

The high court had, acting on a PIL, directed the authorities to vacate the land.

In April, Mathura district administration had issued a notice to the protesters asking them to vacate the land.