Twenty-four people were killed and over 130 injured in violent clashes late Thursday night during an anti-encroachment drive in Jawahar Bagh in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Mukul Dwivedi and SHO Santosh Kumar were among the people killed in the firing.
On Friday, the police arrested 366 persons, according to an NDTV report.
Of the total casualties, 22 dead bodies have reached the Mathura civil hospital. Currently the police is conducting an identification process, following which the dead bodies would be handed over to the families for the last rites. 11 of the 22 civilian bodies suffered severe burns.
The authorities will hold a press conference at 5 PM on Friday.
- Two cops and 22 others killed in the violence
- Bodies of 22 civilians in Mathura civil hospital
- 11 of these bodies severely burnt
- Huge cache of arms including rifles, grenades and swords recovered from the site
- Ex-gratia compensation of Rs 20 lakh each announced for the families of the dead policemen
- The land had been occupied for the last two years by the followers of a self-proclaimed godman
Mathura’s Eviction Drive
Clashes broke out after a drive to evict illegal occupants in Jawahar Bagh was disrupted by encroachers. The police were acting on directions of the Allahabad High Court.
Inspector General (Law and Order) HR Sharma said around 3,000 activists, believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, interrupted the drive by pelting stones and opening fire at the police. The police opened fire in retaliation.
“The activists used not only hand grenades but also opened fire from automatic weapons after taking position on tree tops,” said District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar.
UP police chief Javed Ahmed said a huge cache of arms including rifles, grenades and swords has been recovered from the site.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the families of the deceased policemen. He also directed the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) to take control of the situation and make arrests.
Around Friday noon, BJP Chief Amit Shah sent a team to investigate the matter.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed anguish, adding that a magisterial probe has been ordered.
I have spoken to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pardesh and reviewed the situation in Mathura. I have assured him of all the possible help from the Centre. I am anguished over the loss of lives... May God give strength to the bereaved families.Rajnath Singh
BJP Alleges Gunda Raj in UP
Deceased SP Dwivedi’s mother lashed out at the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, refusing the compensation, for the money will not return her son back.
Hema Malini, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Mathura, said a situation like this in Mathura was unheard of. She also urged for a CBI probe into the clashes.
The Samajwadi Party government failed to control the situation. I had no idea that the situation would deteriorate. I don’t trust the state government. A CBI probe should be ordered.Hema Malini
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra has alleged that the SP government has links with the land grabbers involved in the crime.
The BJP high command has questions how the police could have been unaware that the encroachers were armed.
How is it possible that so many arms and ammunition were stocked in Mathura without the government knowing? Land mafia is being shielded by the government. It is evident that there is ‘gunda raj’ in the state.Sambit Patra, BJP Spokesperson
BJP leader Shrikant Sharma, too, alleged a conspiracy on the part of the SP government, calling it “an epitome of Jungle Raj”.
Responding to the allegations, Cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav said the BJP should not “play politics over dead bodies.”
‘Activists’ Belong to a Group of a Self-Styled Godman
Two years ago, activists of splinter group of self-proclaimed godman Baba Jai Gurudev, claiming to be members of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, had occupied hundreds of acres of land at Jawahar Bagh on the pretext of a ‘dharna’.
Their demands included “cancellation” of election for President and Prime Minister of India, replacement of existing currency with ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ currency, sale of diesel at the rate of 60 litres for one rupee and petrol at the rate of 40 litres for one rupee.
The group had earlier been asked to clear out of the land by 16 April. They had been squatting there for months asking for farmer-friendly policies, and had openly displayed arms as well.
The Allahabad High Court had, acting on a PIL, recently directed the authorities to vacate the land.
However, ABVVKS is not the only outfit involved in the clash. Swadheen Bharat Subhash Sena is another smaller organisation whose members were allegedly part of the encroachers.
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