Moharram Ali Pappu, accused of instigating the mob that led to communal violence in Saharanpur city of Western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, was arrested on Wednesday.

Saharanpur District Magistrate Sandhya Tiwari said, “Moharram Ali Pappu has been arrested and National Security Act has been imposed on him.”

According to the Saharanpur Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh Pandey, an FIR was filed against him after the riots.

The riots broke out between two communities over a disputed property on the Gurudwara road in the Qutub Sher police station area, where, according to the residents, a mosque stood. The Shri Guru Singh Sabha was constructing an extension to the Gurudwara on the disputed property.

Mr. Moharram Ali Pappu had filed a petition in the court against the construction.

Prabhjit Singh, a member of the Shri Guru Singh Sabha, said, “Moharram Ali Pappu asked the Sabha for Rs. 25 lakh for an out of court settlement, but, we denied him the money.”