West UP on boil as BJP cadre clashes with police

LUCKNOW: The fragile peace in western UP, which saw communal riots earlier this month, was broken when villagers led by BJP cadre clashed with the police in Meerut which led to firing in the air. Several people were injured.


Though the law and order has not deteriorated, Sunday’s clash laid bare the state government’s claims that the situation in western UP had returned to normal after a series of communal clashes spread over several days, since August 27.

In what was evidently police failure, about 5,000 villagers gathered at Kheda village in Sardhana block of Meerut district, despite a ban on public meetings. The panchayat was convened by the brother and wife of BJP MLA from Sardhana, Sangeet Som, to protest his arrest for riots in neighbouring Muzaffaranagar and slapping of National Security Act against him and another BJP MLA, Suresh Rana.

Impassioned speeches were made for the MLA’s release. The panchayat meeting grew restive and soon transformed into a clash with the police. Villagers damaged government vehicles, beat up policemen and torched four buses. Cops abandoned their position initially and gained control over the crowd only after much effort.