LUCKNOW: A day after the Centre issued an alert to seven states including Uttar Pradesh against communal polarization leading to violence ahead of 2014 general elections, fresh violence broke out in Muzaffarnagar. On Saturday nine people, including a reporter of a TV news channel, were killed and 34 were injured.

Curfew has been imposed in the areas under three police stations and additional security forces were rushed to the district, which has been simmering for past 10 days following violence in Kawal village in which three people were killed. Late on Saturday night, Army was called in to help the district administration for maintenance of law and order. All districts in the state have also been put on the high alert after the incident.

In Lucknow, additional director general (law and order), Arun Kumar said that among those killed included Rajesh Verma, a journalist associated with a private news channel. He said that the journalist was killed in the firing in Abupura locality in the Muzaffarnagar city.

“The curfew has been clamped in three riot-hit areas under Civil Lines, Kotwali and Nai Mandi police stations. Adequate security arrangements were made for the mahapanchayat. However, as the communal divide runs deep in the area, a small incident triggered large-scale violence. Already over 2,000 security personnel headed by senior officers were deployed in the district in view of the tense situation. Now more forces have been rushed. We are keeping a watch on other parts of the state," he said.

According to reports, violence broke out after a mahapanchayat was organized by members of a community in Naglabadhod. Thousands assembled at the venue demanding withdrawal of cases registered in connection with August 27 Kawal violence. They also demanded Rs 25 lakh as compensation amount for two out of three people who lost their lives in Kawal.

When the people were going back from the mahapanchayat, they were attacked by the members of other community ensuing heavy brick-batting leaving several injured. As the news of attack spread like wildfire in other parts of the district, people from both the communities came out on the streets and clashed with each other, setting afire houses, shops and vehicles.

The clashes took place despite heavy deployment of the police personnel, Provincial Armed Constabulary, Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force. The state government decision to allow the mahapanchayat backfired as fiery speeches were made during the event.

The violence that followed at many places in the town appeared to have been engineered in a planned manner.

Mobs were armed with fire arms and sharp-edged weapons. Heavy exchange of fire was reported from several places. They mobs also attacked reporters to deter them from recording the violence.

Some of the rural areas were also hit. A photographer, hired by police, was beaten to death in Sekeda village. The police also had to use force and fire on the rioting mobs at a few places.

The district was tense since August 27 when a boy of a community was killed by two brothers in Kawal village when the former tried to molest their sister. In retaliation, the members of the community to which the deceased belong attacked the two youth and killed them. Next day, some political parties gave a call of strike in the district.

Stray incidents of violence were also reported during the strike. Later, police booked 229 people, including a local BJP MLA, Sangit Some, for allegedly sharing on the internet sensitive photos related to the recent Kawal incident.

A fake video of a mob beating two youths to death also surfaced in YouTube.

The Kawal incident also led to violence in neighbouring Shamli distcit in which a man was allegedly shot dead.

Earlier during the day, crime branch of the police arrested ex-Jansath block pramukh, Virender Singh, for an alleged provocative speech during the last meeting on August 31.

Singh is a cousin of Shashank Shekhar Singh, who was the former UP cabinet secretary in the previous Mayawati government in the state. The ex-pramukh was arrested for allegedly participating in the unauthorized meeting while prohibitory orders were in force in the area.

Director general of police (DGP), Deo Raj Nagar, who visited the violence-hit areas on Friday, said that a special task force has been formed to probe the Kawal incident. “Some anti-social elements are trying to create communal tension. The STF will be help in bring situation under control,” he said.

More than 50 incidents of communal tension at various places have taken place in UP after Samajwadi Party came to power in March last year. In 12 such incidents, violence claimed more than 25 lives. The central intelligence agencies in their recent report had warned about more riots.

On September 4, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had also reviewed the law and order in view of the threat. Sources said while communal riots in different parts of the state in the past 18 months have created a “volatile” situation, the ongoing tussle between the SP government and the VHP over the ongoing 84-kosi yatra has also contributed to the tension.

Many see it as a “fixed match” between the SP and the BJP to divide votes on communal lines in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

Meanwhile, state’s urban development and minority welfare minister Azam Khan warned those “trying to harm the atmosphere of the state” in the name of caste and community. In a statement, Khan said that government will ensure stern action against those involved in such acts and appealed to the people to exercise restraint.

The government also issued a high alert in the state in view of the Muzaffarnagar violence. While the government has directed deployment of 28 companies of additional police force at different places in the state, five companies of PAC and as many of RAF have been rushed to the affected areas in Muzaffarnagar.

Security was also beefed up in Ayodhya and adjoining district which are falling in the route of VHP’s yatra.

