In a violent clash that took place between land-encroachers and the police in Mathura on Thursday, 24 people were killed and over 130 were injured.
While the police tried to conduct an anti-encroachment drive in Jawahar Bagh area of Mathura, aound 3,000 activists, believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi (ABVVKS), interrupted the drive by pelting stones and opening fire on the police.
Police Admits Failure of Intelligence
The administration admitted failure of intelligence. The encroachers were allegedly armed with at least 6 rifles, about 200 bullets, and 1000 LPG gas cylinders, among other kinds of arms and ammunition.
Uttar Pradesh Police DGP Javed Ahmed claimed that the fringe group opened fire without any provocation. The cops were pelted and lathi-charged.
“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.
According to media sources, suspects set fire to huts with ammunition and many of them died in the resultant blasts. The police later recovered 178 hand grenades and about 20 crude bombs.
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Rahul Gandhi drew attention to what he claimed is a state of “deteriorating law and order” in Uttar Pradesh.
BJP Blames Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for the Attack
The BJP leader Sambit Patra questioned why Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was not already at the site of the violent clash.
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The BJP also blamed Yadav’s Samajwadi Party government for giving political support to goons who were allegedly behind the clash. The BJP accused Yadav’s uncle, Shivpal Yadav, of backing the culprits. Shivpal Yadav hit back and demanded either evidence for BJP’s claims or an apology.
Uttar Pradesh BJP Chief Keshav Prasad Maurya spoke to ANI and said:
These goons, who have killed the police officials, have the backing of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle. The Uttar Pradesh Government is fully responsible for this event. I will request Akhilesh Yadav to investigate the matter in an unbiased manner.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju condemned the incident and said there was a lapse on the part of the Uttar Pradesh government. He added the incident should not have happened and that the State should look into the matter.
Mayawati Seeks SP Government’s Resignation
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati sought resignation of the state’s Akhilesh Yadav government, and demanded a “time-bound judicial probe” into the matter.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the violent incident in the “religious city” of Mathura was “extremely sad and worrying”.
Like the BJP, she too accused the Samajwadi Party government of patronising goons in the state.
Police Were Not Prepared for Arms: Akhilesh Yadav
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the strictest action would be taken against the culprits and the guilty would be brought to justice. Over 350 arrests have been made so far. Additional forces have also been sent to Mathura, the Chief Minister confirmed.
Yadav added that the police should have gone with full preparation, but they had no idea about the arms and ammunition possessed by the encroachers. Many attempts were made to hold discussions, while warnings were issued, but the encroachers still did not evacuate the land, claimed Yadav.
An inquiry has been set to look into the matter. The Chief Minister has also 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 further arrests.
(With agency inputs.)
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