Judicial probe ordered into riots

Trouble broke out when a procession by members of Samajwadi Party and Muslim Kriti Samiti, to mark the seventh anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition turned violent, forcing the police to fire in the air and resort to lathi charge to disperse the activists and others, including media persons, outside the police commissionerate office.

The activists had courted arrest and were being taken into police vans when they clashed with escorting policemen. 20 of them were injured in stone-pelting incidents. The situation in the city was stated to be under control today, police said.

Bhujbal said that Additional DG Puri, who is camping here, would submit a report to the government about the incident and take necessary administrative decisions.

Bhujbal said the lathi-charge during the incident was quot;very unfortunate and uncalled forquot;. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10,000 for the injured, including policemen.

The Aurangabad collector would look into cases of cameras of photographers damaged in the incident and on the basis of his report, the government would take a decision on assistance in this regard, Bhujbal said.

He appealed to all political parties and organisations to cooperate with the government and police to maintain peace in the city.