UP clashes: Akhilesh Yadav promises strict action; FIRs lodged

LUCKNOW: A day after violent protests rocked the state capital and some other parts of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today promised "stern action" against those harming communal amity of the state.

"Stern action would be taken against those out to harm communal atmosphere of the state," Akhilesh said.

"The social fabric of the state is such that all live together in harmony but if someone tries to harm it, stern action would be taken against them," he said in an informal chat.

The chief minister also appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.

Yesterday, protest marches after the last Friday prayers of Ramadan in Allahabad and Lucknow turned violent as people, shouting slogans against alleged atrocities on minorities in Assam and Myanmar, resorted to stone pelting and vandalism.

Meanwhile, five FIRs have been lodged in different parts of the state capital over yesterday's violence and efforts were on to identify the trouble makers.

The Mayor of Lucknow Dinesh Sharma who visited the parks along with officials demanded the government to reconstruct it soon or else the Nagar Nigam would do the needful.

Late yesterday, Principal Secretary(home), RM Srivastav and DGP AC Sharma had issued a joint appeal to the people of the state to not to pay heed to misleading SMSs and rumours.

Both officials asked respective districts authorities to deal strictly with those harming communal amity and disturbing peace and order and asked people to help the authority to identify those spreading rumours.