Two communities clash over construction on disputed site, indulge in arson

Three persons were killed and 26 injured in communal clashes in Saharanpur on Saturday, prompting the district administration to impose curfew and issue shoot-at-sight orders. The Army has been put on alert.

Members of one community began construction at a vacant plot near Gurdwara Road in the Qutubsher police station area allegedly without the permission of the Saharanpur Development Authority.

Members of the other community objected to this, saying the land, near a graveyard, belonged to them.

Following a heated exchange, the two groups indulged in arson, threw stones and even exchanged fire.

Among those injured are the Saharanpur City Magistrate and six policemen. A constable who received bullet injuries has been shifted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.

Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan, who reviewed the situation, expressed anger at the intelligence failure.

Land dispute

The violence is said to be a fallout of a dispute between two communities over ownership of a vacant plot.

According to Daljeet Singh Kochar, an advocate in the Saharanpur civil court, one Moharram Ali Pappu filed a petition in the court 10 years ago, stating that a mosque had been built on the land and it must not be used by the gurdwara. But, Mr. Kochar said, the Additional District Judge passed an order in May 2013 stating the land belonged to the gurdwara.

Kulveer Singh, a member of the Gurdwara Prabandhak Samiti, said “the land where the samiti was constructing an extension to the gurdwara premises was the place from where the violence started around 4 a.m. on Saturday.”

He alleged that a mob of more than 700 people approached the gurdwara and started throwing stones.

Saharanpur District Magistrate Sandhya Tiwari said “the construction was carried out without the permission of the Saharanpur Development Authority (SDA).” The SDA stopped the construction when it was reported around four days ago, she added.

According to the Saharanpur Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajesh Pandey, “12 persons have been arrested” for the violence.

Ms. Tiwari said curfew would continue to be imposed through Saturday night and the decision to revoke it would be taken after assessing the situation on Sunday morning.

Eight companies and one platoon of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, two companies of the Rapid Action Force, four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, two companies of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and two companies of the Sashastra Seema Bal have been deployed, a police spokesman said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to ensure communal harmony, and offered all help to contain the situation, PTI said.

Mr. Singh telephoned Mr. Yadav, expressed concern over the clashes, and asked the Chief Minister to take all possible steps to ensure peace, official sources said.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also called for an end to the “politics of hatred” in the country. “I am deeply saddened to hear of clashes in Saharanpur. Violence, divisiveness and hatred have no place in our country. This politics of hatred must end. I appeal to every one to remain calm and refrain from fanning communal passions,” he added.