Kasganj violence: 49 arrested, Section 144 imposed; internet services suspended

The UP Police have arrested at least 49 people in connection with the violence that broke out in the Kasganj town in western Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

LUCKNOW: The law and enforcement agencies on Saturday arrested at least 49 people in connection with the violence that broke out in the Kasganj town in western Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in the death of a young man.

Taking adequate precautionary measures, the authorities have sealed the borders and imposed Section 144 in the violence-hit Kasganj town.

A strong posse of RAF and PAC personnel have intensified vigil in the district to prevent any untoward incident.

''All internet services have been suspended from 5 pm on January 27 to 10 pm on January 28,'' RP Singh, Kasganj District Magistrate, said.

Giving more details about the security situation in Kasganj, UP Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said, ''Police force was immediately sent to Kasganj following the violence. Few incidents of fire were reported today on the outskirts, but no major violence was reported. The situation is now under control.''

''The Chief Minister is also monitoring the situation closely,'' he added. 

According to ANI, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been constituted by the UP Police to probe the incident and nab the remaining culprits suspected to be involved in the violence.

उक्त संबंध में कासगंज पुलिस द्वारा 31 लोगों को गिरफ्तार किया गया है । — KASGANJ POLICE (@kasganjpolice) January 27, 2018

The violence broke out after some unidentified men hurled stones at the 'Tiranga Yatra' being taken out by a group of youths to celebrate the Republic Day on Friday. 

A 16-year-old boy was killed and at least two persons were injured in the clashes.

Almost a dozen of vehicles were also damaged in the violence.

"One person died during arson, firing and stone pelting, while two others sustained injuries today. The deceased has been identified as Chandan (16). Curfew has been imposed in the city," District Magistrate RP Singh had said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had condoled the loss of life and told the police to sternly deal with the culprits.

UPCM श्री #YogiAdityanath ने कासगंज में दो पक्षों के विवाद में एक युवक की मृत्यु पर गहरा शोक व्यक्त करते हुए प्रशासन से पीड़ित परिवार की हरसंभव मदद करने के निर्देश दिए हैं। — CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) January 26, 2018

UPCM श्री #YogiAdityanath ने दोनों पक्षों से शांति व सद्भाव बनाए रखने की अपील की है, साथ ही प्रशासन को उपद्रवी तत्वों से सख्ती से निपटने के निर्देश दिए हैं। — CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) January 26, 2018

However, fresh violence was reported in the area today a group of people went on a rampage after the cremation of the young man who was killed yesterday. 

According to reports, two shops and a bus was set on fire following which fire brigade teams were rushed to the spot. 

A shoe shop was one of the two shops set ablaze by the miscreants in Baradwari.

A shoes shop set ablaze in Baradwari; fire tenders & police present at the spot #KasganjClashes pic.twitter.com/Weyy29Fh4J — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 27, 2018

Following the clashes, a curfew was imposed in the city.

The Uttar Pradesh Police tweeted that they have arrested at least nine people in connection with the clashes yesterday.

"A complaint has been filed at Kasganj police station and nine persons involved have been arrested so far. A special team has been constituted and we are trying to arrest others involved," the police said.

"It seems the (stone pelting) incident was not pre-planned, but spontaneous," Additional DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said.

"The troublemakers are being identified, and stringent action will be initiated against them. The district administration has been able to control the situation so far, but additional forces will be called to ensure that the situation does not worsen," he said.

Meanwhile, slamming the law and order situation in UP, former chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today termed the violence in Kasganj as unfortunate.

''This, happening on Republic Day is unfortunate. People of Kasganj respect each other. We want action against culprits but no injustice should be done,'' Akhilesh Yadav said.

A short video clip of Friday's bike rally also surfaced on the social media showing hundreds of young men, many of them holding the tricolour and saffron flag, getting ready for the bike rally.

The video shows them standing on one of the streets of the Kasganj town, probably the time when they were told by the members of another community to take a different route for their rally.

(With PTI inputs)