2 killed in Sardhana riots

The SP (Rural), additional district magistrate, sub-divisional magistrate of Sardhana and inspector have been suspended. Meerut Range DIG C.B. Rai said the situation is under control but there are reports of communal tension in Moradabad and Muzaffarnagar. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has sent ADGP Bua Singh, who is still camping here, to monitor the situation.

Trouble began on Friday night when a 22-year-old Gujjar youth, Chandrapal alias Bobi, was stabbed dead at the Boodha Babu mela by youths from another community. Following the attack, mobs went on the rampage.

The situation worsened on Saturday when Bobi’s uncle was hacked dead, allegedly in front of police, when he was returning home after cremating his nephew. DIG Rai said curfew would be lifted as soon as normalcy returns.

Rapid Action Force, ITBP and BSF have been deployed and a red alert has been sounded in entire western Uttar Pradesh following the clashes, a senior police officer said.

Bobi’s brother, Satyendra, has lodged a report against Magrub, Babu and Khillu for murdering his brother Bobi. In turn, a complaint has been lodged against 15 others, including Satyendra, for burning and damaging buses at the local stand. The district administration’s dilly-dallying in announcing ex gratia for the victim’s family has also aggravated the situation.

While it was announced that the victim’s family would be given Rs 10,000, angry mobs hit the streets in protest, calling it an insult.

Bobi’s mother, Jagriti Devi, said she would pay more to get the killers hanged. ‘‘I am not interested in the money. All I want is punishment to the killers,’’ she said.

Clashes broke out in Fatehpur Vishnoi village in Moradabad when members of a community alleged their sacred book had been damaged at a place of worship.

The matter has been under dispute for some time as a madarsa was built and namaz broadcast from loudspeakers. Two months ago, the district administration locked up the madarsa but later, the locks were broken.

In Muzaffarnagar, resentment is brewing in Sarai Rasoolpur where villagers alleged idols at a Shiva temple were desecrated.