A police inspector and a reserve inspector suffered bullet injuries following indiscriminate firing by rioters... Read More

KANPUR: A police inspector and a reserve inspector suffered bullet injuries following indiscriminate firing by rioters in an escalation of violence that had erupted in the Babupurwa area here over damage to a religious poster late Friday night.

"Two policemen, including station house officer of Badshahi Naka D K Singh and reserve inspector Yogesh Sharma, were hit by bullets fired by rioters in Chamanganj area." Said SSP Shalabh Mathur.

"They were rushed to a hospital. Some locals also suffered injuries in stone throwing by a mob, which also vandalized private and government property. Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the city and security has been stepped up," said Mathur added.

Police said clashes erupted on Friday night over tearing up of a religious poster. On Saturday afternoon, the situation turned ugly when agitators demanded action against the culprits and staged a protest. By the evening, the situation had worsened with groups of rioters taking to the streets and indulging in heavy brick-batting and firing. Several vehicles were torched by angry mob near Zarib Chowki area, police said.

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The protesters later staged a road blockade where a 'tazia' procession was to be taken out, which further escalated tension in other parts of the city.

Senior officials including district magistrate (DM) Kaushal Raj Sharma, SSP Shalabh Mathur and others rushed to the spot and instructed the locals to remain indoor.

However, the mob again relented to brick-batting after which the police dispersed them using by resorting to lathi-charge and tear-gas shells.

Panic gripped and people locked themselves up in their houses and the shutters of the shops in the nearby markets such as Gumti, Darshanpurwa, Jarib Chowki had been pulled down.

Rumours did rounds and the officials appealed people to not to pay attention to the rumours and to maintain calm and peace.

The traffic movement had been suspended on the Kalpi road between Fazalganj and Jarib Chowki. The traffic movement therefore, remained diverted. The police had cordoned off the area. To avoid any kind of backlash, heavy force had been deployed in the lanes and the bylanes of the congested area having mixed population of the two communities.