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Curfew continues in strife-hit Aligarh

SP removed for his handling of the situation

ALIGARH: Curfew continued on Tuesday in five areas of this town hit by communal violence that had left three persons dead even as the Uttar Pradesh Government removed the local Superintendent of Police for his handling of the situation.

Officials said the situation in the town was steadily improving and no untoward incidents had been reported since Sunday night, when the gunning down of local BJP leader and prominent trader O. P. Gupta sparked clashes. Two persons were killed and over a dozen injured in the violence. State Home Secretary R. M. Srivastava told reporters in Lucknow that Aligarh was peaceful but security personnel continued to patrol the streets. A total of 54 people had been taken into custody in connection with the clashes.

Aligarh's Superintendent of Police D. P. Singh was removed from active duty and attached to the DG's office in Lucknow. Additional Superintendent of Police (Ferozabad) Jagdish Sharma has been appointed in Mr. Singh's place, Mr. Srivastava said.

He said the district administration of Aligarh had announced a reward of Rs. 3 lakh for anyone providing clues to any possible conspiracy behind the communal violence.

The State Government also announced compensation of Rs. 5 lakh for the next of kin of the three persons killed and Rs. 1 lakh for each of the injured.

Madani prevented from going to Aligarh

Police on Wednesday detained Lok Dal MP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind general secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani to prevent him from going to riot-affected Aligarh town.

Madani, who was on his way to Aligarh from Deoband in neighbouring Saharanpur district, was not allowed to proceed to the curfew-bound district and taken to Delhi by a police escort, police said here.

The Jamiat leader accused the Aligarh district authorities of ``failing'' to maintain peace and claimed he was carrying the message of peace to the riot-affected area.

He asked the state government to take strict action against those responsible for the situation and demanded immediate suspension of the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police of Aligarh. - PTI

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