Caste violence in Sarahanpur: Yogi Adityanath govt suspends SSP SC Dubey, District Manager NP Singh

The UP govt suspended the Sarahanpur SSP and the top officer in the wake of ongoing Dalit-Thakur riots.

Lucknow: Acting on the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh's Sarahanpur due to the ongoing clash between two communities, the Yogi Adityanath-led government on Wednesday suspended senior police officer Subhash Chandra Dubey and top officer NP Singh with immediate effect. 

As per the report, the Uttar Pradesh government suspended Sarahanpur SSP and the top officer over their inability to control violence amid the ongoing clashes between two communities in the area. 

What happened: 

On Tuesday, a mob attacked a group of people returning from a rally of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, killing Ashish (24), who hailed from Sarsawa town, on the spot and injuring four others.

The injured will be given Rs 50,000 each as compensation.

"Fresh violence erupted yesterday after some unidentified persons set fire to at least 12 houses of Thakurs in Shabbirpur village ahead of the arrival of Mayawati there," SP (City) Prabal Pratap said.

After Mayawati wrapped up her visit to the village, a mob attacked a Bolero carrying some BSP supporters, who had come from Sarsawa to attend her event.

Saharanpur has been in the grip of caste violence since April:

On May 5, a Dalit group had objected to a procession of Thakurs in Shabbirpur to mark the birth anniversary of Rajput king Maharana Pratap, triggering violence, in which one person was killed and over 15 were injured.

Dalits say upper caste Thakurs had earlier prevented them from installing a statue of BR Ambedkar on the premises of the Ravidas temple in the village.

Members of the Bheem Army, a Dalit group, had on May 9 torched a bus and set a number of two-wheelers afire after the administration had turned down their request to hold a mahapanchayat in Gandhi Park to demand compensation for those affected in the May 5 inter-caste clashes.

The village is home to around 600 Dalits and over 900 Thakurs.

Earlier today, SSP Dubey said that at least 25 people were arrested in connection with yesterday's incidents.