The Centre has sought a report from Uttar Pradesh government on violence in Muzaffarnagar and directed it to take strong action to curb riots.
Home Ministry officials are in regular touch with the Uttar Pradesh government and have assured it of all possible help to control the violence in the western UP district.
Army staged a flag march in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar today where the toll in communal clashes between members of two communities climbed to 28 while many have been were injured. Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported from villages in Meerut where two people have been killed while seven are said to be wounded.
Curfew has been clamped in Civil Lines, Kotwali and Nai Mandi areas of the district where the Army has been deployed along with five companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary, five of Rapid Action Force and the police. The Army has also been deployed in some areas of neighbouring Shamli district as well.
Officials said apart from the Army, 10,000 Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel, 1,300 CRPF and 1,200 Rapid Action Force jawans have been deployed.
“The Army has formed the first line of security with the police, while 28 companies of state and Central paramilitary forces have been deputed to other trouble hit areas,” said Arun Kumar. At least three police circles of Muzaffarnagar city remained under curfew on Saturday.
Major incidents of communal violence in UP in 2013 Date
Date AREA
January 4 Dhammaur village of Sultanpur district — 12 injured
January 25 Sibbiganj village in Bareilly district — 7 injured
January 28 Chandausi area in Sambhal district — 3 injured
March 3 Aliganj town of Ambedkar Nagar district — Hindu Yuva Vahini leader Rambabu Gupta shot dead
March 4 Nakkash area in Sambhal district — 1 killed
March 5 Nagina town of Bijnore district — 17 injured
March 7 Rupaidiha area of Bahraich — 5 injured in clash following desecration of religious place
March 12 Nidhauli Kala of Etah — 4 injured, 6 vehicles set afire
March 26 Kairana town of Shamli — 5 injured
July 27 Nagla Mal village in Meerut — 2 killed, 12 injured
July 31 Lucknow — 6 injured
August 6 Bhadaurganj area of Rampur district — 7 injured
August 9 Amroha district — 17 injured
August 9 Rasulpur Dhauri village in Meerut — no casualties
August 12 Machlishahar area of Jaunpur — clash between two communities over a dog. The police took the dog into custody to restore peace
August 16 Bulandhshahar — 4 injured in fire exchange
August 25 Jhansi — no casualties
August 27 Khair area of Aligarh district — boycott of one community by another
August 27 Kawal in Muzaffarnagar — 3 killed
August 28 Chibramua area of Kannauj district — 2 injured
September 3 Shamli district — 1 dead, 3 injured