Around 600 paramilitary force personnel were sent to Uttar Pradesh on Saturday by the centre to maintain law and order in the state in the wake of violence in Saharanpur.

The decision to send the paramilitary personnel was taken after Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, official sources said.

Singh had asked Yadav to ensure communal harmony in the state in the wake of violence in Saharanpur and offered all help to contain the situation.

Earlier in the day, clashes broke out over a land dispute between two communities. Even as curfew was imposed in three police station areas, two people died, while at least 18 others were injured during the clashes in Kutubshehr area of Saharanpur.

Two killed in dispute over places of worship

Saharanpur’s Police Commissioner Tanveer Zafar Ali said a policeman sustained bullet injuries during the clashes and was referred to hospital in a serious condition. DIG N. Ravindra said the clashes began over an old dispute over a piece of land caught in litigation, lodged between two places of worship.

On Saturday, members of one community began constructing a boundary wall around the land, which was then opposed by members from the second community.

The brawl began with a verbal spat and led to the two groups hurling stones at each other.

By arrangement with the Times of India

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2014