Samajwadi party backing goons, enroches in UP, alleges BJP

​Lucknow: The toll in Krishna's city Mathura's violence rose to 24 and more than 100 people and policemen were reportedly injured on Friday in the clashes between police and encroachers during an anti-encroachment drive carried on Thursday but unconfirmed reports says yesterday’s night violence incident deaths have crossed 40.

The opposition parties BSP, BJP and RLD on Friday accused the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh of patronising goons and demanded a judicial inquiry into the Mathura violence that has left 24 persons officially dead including two police officials one SP and SHO.

Among dead, more than a dozen are reported to have received severe burns that raises doubts over police style of action with bad intentions or mal-practice. Police termed the deceased as goons. Political parties also questioned the Mathura police action timing for evacuating encroachment where 3000 people were staying. Governor Ram Naik, who is in Mumbai, sought a detailed report on the violence incident from the Chief Minister and a proper inquiry to nail the culprits.

The opposition parties questioned the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, where elections are due next year and they alleged that encroachers were enjoying political patronage from ruling side. Opposition leaders asserted that efforts should be made by the administration to swiftly bring the guilty to book.

The clashes between police and protesters Thursday broke out when the local police launched a drive to clear encroachment in Jawahar Bagh area of the Mathura city. The encroachers in several hundreds, who described themselves as 'Satyagrahis', were reportedly from a semi-religious sect linked with late Jaigurudev. Two policemen killed are Mathura SP City Mukul Dwivedi, Farah Police Station SHO Santosh Yadav and 22 protesters, whereas, more than 100 people have been seriously injured in the incident.

Without any delay BSP supremo Mayawati said the SP government should resign taking responsibility for the “unfortunate and painful” incident and demanded a time-bound judicial inquiry. BJP sought a CBI probe and claimed the incident reflected the “lawlessness” in the state.

UP Congress said that it was time that Samajwadi Party Government woke up from its slumber. BJP MP from Mathura Hema Malini busy with her shooting favoured a CBI inquiry into the incident. However, the Chief Minister ruled out a CBI probe into the matter, saying that it would be conducted only at the Commissioner-level and action will be taken against the guilty following the investigation.

Reviewing Mathura's post night violence incident and tense situation; union home minister Rajnath Singh had spoke to UP CM Akhilesh, he also assured the CM of all possible help from the Centre. In response Home Minister also tweeted, Anguished over the loss of lives in the incidents of violence in Mathura, May God give strength to the bereaved families to bear the loss.

The Chief Minister last night had ordered a Commissioner's inquiry into the incident through Divisional Commissioner of Aligarh and also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the family of deceased policemen.

Senior minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said there should be no politics over the incident and politics should not be done over the dead. However, top officials of the UP government including Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan, Principal Secretary for Home Devashish Panda, DGP Javeed Ahmed and ADG Daljit Chaudhry Friday came to Mathura to visit the spot. The district authorities have claimed to have cleared the encroached area and a manhunt has been launched to nab the culprits. After the incident, 350 people have been detained for their involvement in the clash, the city continues to be tense even as heavy police reinforcement has been deployed.

Over two dozen companies of PAC along with 6 companies of central forces have been rushed to Mathura while civil police from the nearby districts have also been sent to control the situation. DGP Javeed Ahmed in his tweet said that a huge cache of arms were recovered in Mathura-violence side; 45 arms of 315 bore CMP pistols, two 12 bore, one factory made 315 bore rifle, one 12 bore rifle, four are of 315 bore illegal weapons.

The BJP slammed the Akhilesh Yadav government for letting the situation get out of control. It was the Samajwadi Party goons who encroached on the Jawaharbagh area some three years back and police was not given the freedom to act and it's a matter of sheer negligence. We demand a judicial inquiry into the matter, BJP added. Over 900 such incidents had happened where police had been targeted ever since the Akhilesh led government came to power in Uttar Pradesh.

Actress turned politician Hema Malini also attacked the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh over the violence saying: they should have taken care of it. She claimed she had alerted police and the district administration about the "protest" in Mathura-Jawaharbagh by a group of people. I did not know that this is going to be such a serious matter. But two months back when I came to know that some clash is going on I asked them and the DM said we are all handling it, she told a TV channel.

By Kunwar Ashok S Rajput