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Peace meets held, no fresh violence

Mukhtar Ansari denies allegations of inciting violence; blames BJP for conspiring to spread trouble

MAU: Shoot-at-sight orders remained in force as additional forces were deployed in sensitive areas and peace meetings were organised on Monday to defuse the situation in this curfew-bound town where communal riots have claimed seven lives. Additional security personnel were rushed to areas where fresh incidents were reported on Sunday and a close vigil was being maintained, according to official sources.

While senior police officials including the DIG (Range) are camping in the town to monitor the situation, meetings of peace committees were being organised to diffuse the tension. Essential commodities were being provided to the people residing in curfew-bound areas, they said. So far 32 people have been injured while 180 arrests made in connection with the riots that broke out last week over Dussehra festivities.

Meanwhile, the local independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari, denied allegations of inciting violence saying the BJP had hatched a conspiracy to trigger communal violence ``with a view to gain political mileage and malign my image''.

He demanded that the town be handed over to the army for maintaining law and order and registration of cases against the suspended Commissioner, District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and Circle officer.

Several long and short distance trains passing through Mau or originating here had either been cancelled or diverted to other routes as a precautionary measure, sources said. Movement of roadways buses coming here from Gorakhpur, Azamgarh and Ballia had also been suspended. Ten companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and two of the Rapid Action Force had been deployed in the town where senior officials, drawn from neighbouring districts were camping, they said.

The State Government has already sounded a red alert in all eastern districts to avoid any backlash. Senior BJP leaders meanwhile, met the Governor T.V. Rajeshwar in Lucknow and handed over a memorandum demanding dismissal of the Mulayam Yadav government for its failure to contain the communal riots, handing over the town to army and an inquiry into the violence by a sitting judge of the High Court.

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