Tension spreads across eastern UP

Even as the curfew continued, without any relaxation, in four police stations of Gorakhpur on the fourth consecutive day today

Even as the curfew continued, without any relaxation, in four police stations of Gorakhpur on the fourth consecutive day today, communal violence spread to more districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Balia, Maharajganj, Basti and Siddharth Nagar.

Local MP Yogi Adityanath8217;s supporters targeted Railways, attacked government building and torched shops and government vehicles in protest against the administration8217;s decision to arrest the leader. They also attacked a few religious places in rural parts of the districts.

The police also detained two senior BJP leaders 8212; Keshrinath Tripathi and Lalji Tandon 8212; in Barabanki and Allahabad districts on Tuesday morning. Both the leaders were on way to Gorakhpur to intensify the agitation against the arrest of Yogi.

Meanwhile, members of one community refused the administration8217;s request to take out processions to observe Moharram in the city. 8220;We assured the people that we will provide security for the procession. But they are not ready,8221; Additional District Magistrate City P K Agarwal said. He quoted one member as saying: 8220;Koi dekhne wala nahin to procession kyon nikalenge if there is no one to see then why will we take out the procession?.8221;

Trouble began in the morning when a group of miscreants tried to set afire a coach of the 582 Dn passenger train near the Jagat Bela railway station in Gorakhpur district. 8220;We saw smoke in the coach. The passengers quickly swung into action and extinguished the fire. Later, they also chased the miscreants. There was no casualty,8221; Station Superintendent of Jagat Bela S S Singh told The Indian Express over phone, adding that 8220;the train reached the station at 9.57 am and was allowed to move onward from here at around 11.30 am.8221;

A group of people also burnt effigies of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav in front of a religious place near Tarang level crossing in Gorakhpur city and pelted stones at the police party. A short distance from there, miscreants damaged a pontoon bridge over Rohin river near Dominganj village.

Trouble-mongers also attacked the office of the UP Pollution Control Board in Awas Vikash Colony in Gorakhpur and torched two government vehicles.

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Reports reaching here from other districts of eastern UP said the police faced a difficult time keeping the situation under control. 8220;In the Shoharatgarh police station area of Siddharth Nagar district, members of two communities clashed. But it was a minor incident. We have intensified patrolling,8221; Siddharth Nagar SP Ramit Sharma told the paper over phone.

Maharjganj SP Amitabh Thakur also confirmed clashes between members of two communities in rural parts of the district. 8220;We have arrested 17 persons. They are accused of instigating communal violence,8221; Thakur said. Neither Principal Secretary Home S K Agarwal nor Additional Director General of Police A C Sharma could be contacted despite repeated attempts.