Sealing, FIR scare in west Uttar Pradesh

Even as normalcy has returned to most of the parts of Muzaffarnagar, an uneasy calm continues to prevail in the city's Minakshi Chowk area that witnessed violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on Friday.

The district administration has sealed more than 60 shops at Minakshi chowk, a marketplace between Khala Par and Mahabir Chowk.

“A day after the incident, I came to my shop. I saw it was sealed,” said Rafiq Ahemad who runs a shop of tractor parts. “The lock is mine, but the administration has put a seal on it,” he told ET.


Amit Singh, additional district magistrate (ADM), Muzaffarnagar, alleged that stones were being pelted from roofs of most of the sealed shops during the agitation on Friday. These shops remained closed from morning hours on the day of violent protests. If they had information about protests in advance, they could have communicated to the administration, Singh told ET.

He said a group of shopkeepers approached him on Sunday to request removal of the seals. “I have asked them to submit their application individually.”

Police said the decision to seal the shops will help in proper investigation of incidents on Friday. “We are examining the video footage of the violent protests,” a police officer said on condition of anonymity. “Those who were involved in damaging public properties and stone pelting, would be identified.” He said there are CCTV cameras installed in some shops.

Superintendent of police (crime) R B Chaurasia said police have so far registered about 30 FIRs relating to Friday’s violence. “A special investigating team (SIT) has been constituted by SSP to investigate these cases.” To a question, he said police are complainant in 22 FIRs.

The SIT has 10 inspector-ranked officials besides two sub-inspectors, three head constables and two constables.

In the meantime, the administration has undertaken an exercise to assess the cost of properties damaged in the incidents.