Lucknow, September 10; Curfew remained in force in riot-hit areas of Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday with the army patrolling troubled places as the death toll in the clashes in the district and adjoining towns rose to 38.
Over 360 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
“A total of 38 people have died in various districts of western Uttar Pradesh with 32 deaths in Muzaffarnagar”, Home Secretary Kamal Saxena said in Lucknow.
While two deaths have been reported from Meerut, one each has been reported from Hapur, Baghpat, Saharapur and Shamli, he said, adding that 81 people have been injured in these districts and 366 people have been arrested.
The Home Secretary said no fresh incident has been reported and the situation was under control.
Curfew in three police station areas of Muzaffarnagar — Civil Lines, Kotwali and Nai Mandi — was continuing and army was patrolling the troubled areas in Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Meerut, Mr. Saxena said.
Prohibitory orders are being enforced strictly and a strict watch is being maintained on mischievous elements.
FIRs were on Monday registered against BJP legislative party leader Hukum Singh, MLAs Suresh Rana, Bhartendu, Sangeet Som, former Congress MP Harendra Malik among others for violating prohibitory orders and some of the senior leaders who tried to go to Muzaffarnagar, including union minister Ajit Singh.
The injured are undergoing treatment in various hospitals and the affected people have been shifted to safer places.
The government has constituted a one-member judicial commission headed by (retd) Justice Vishnu Sahai to probe into the Muzaffarnagar violence starting August 27 from the Kawal incident till September 9 and would submit its report in two months time.
Concerned over the incidents, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday spoke to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and assured him of all help from the Centre to deal with the situation.
More arrests
Meanwhile, police has arrested 99 people for attempting to disturb the communal harmony in Baghpat.
“2,225 people have been booked under various sections of the IPC. 35 illegal arms have been recovered and 126 licensed arms have been deposited from August 28 till date,” Lakshmi Singh, SP, Baghpat said.
Police had recovered a body from Badot Yamuna Nahar yesterday, he said.
However, he rejected the possibility of any connection of this body with the violence in Muzaffarnagar.
“Such bodies have been recovered from other districts as well in past,” he said.
The ACP said that a body of teenaged boy was recovered from Doghat area yesterday but denied it to be linked to communal violence.
“The boy was murdered by the brother of a girl with whom he was involved,” he said.
“Few youths are trying to breach peace in the area.
Police and administration will strictly deal with anybody trying to disturb the communal harmony,” said Amrit Tripathi, DM, Baghpat.
