RS Prasad, Ajit Singh stopped from proceeding towards Muzaffarnagar

LUCKNOW: Under fire for failing to control the Muzaffarnagar riots, the embattled Akhilesh Yadav-led government in UP stirred into action on Monday, announcing a rash of transfers and arrests in an attempt to draw a line under a growing perception that it was a weak administration.

As the death toll from the riots, triggered by a local dispute last month, rose to 31, the government stopped BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and RLD chief Ajit Singh from travelling to Muzaffarnagar.

Cases were lodged against four BJP MLAs, two Bharatiya Kisan Union leaders and a former Congress MP Harendu Malik for instigating people. Yadav also transferred several senior officers for not being able to control the situation, including Saharanpur Commissioner SK Srivastava, DIG DC Mishra, Meerut IG Brij Bhushan, Muzaffarnagar SSP Subhash Dubey and Shamli SP Abdul Hamid.

FIRs were lodged against BJP legislature party leader Hukum Singh, Suresh Rana, Bhartendu Singh and Sangeet Shome for giving inflammatory speeches. Shome has been accused of circulating fake videos showing a crowd lynching a youth.

The state government also appointed a one-member judicial commission, to be headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Vishnu Sahay, to probe the riots. The commission has been asked to submit its report to the state government within two months.

However, Hukum Singh, who had addressed the ‘Bahu Beti Bachao Mahapanchayat’ organised by the Bhartiya Kisan Union on Saturday, said the government was using him and other BJP leader as scapegoats after failing to control the situation. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also waded into the situation, speaking to Yadav and expressing concern.

The home ministry has asked the state government to deploy more forces in rural areas. Meanwhile, BSP chief Mayawati demanded that the state government be dismissed and accused both SP and BJP of trying to create tensions to suit their vested interests.

BJP President Rajnath Singh also demand President’s rule in UP. Demanding state government’s dismissal, Millat Bedari Muhim Committee Aligarh’s Jasim Mohammad said: “The state government has failed in stopping riots.”