Strict vigil and heavy patrolling continues in all the troubled areas of Uttar Pradesh. Situation in and around the districts of Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat and Meerut, is tense but under control. Life is limping back to normalcy, with no fresh violence reported yesterday.
State Home Secretary Kamal Saxena said in Lucknow yesterday that more than 10,000 people have been displaced so far, in violence that has claimed more than 40 lives since Saturday. He said, mostly villagers have been displaced, most of whom have found their way to state relief camps.
A missing persons' cell is being run from IG Meerut Zone's office. Families can register their complaints on the helpline number : 9454402574.
Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Arun Kumar said that large quantity of illegal arms, including 41 cartridges of AK-47, ten cartridges of 9 MM pistol and other weapons were recovered from the Ramala police area in Baghpat last evening.
AIR correspondent reports that around 10,000 preventive arrests have, so far, been made by the administration, and seven cases have been lodged under the National Security Act.
On a preventive measure, the administration has extended the closure of school colleges in Muzaffarnagar and other troubled areas till 14th of this month. Today, the relaxation in curfew is expected for a larger period of time in Muzaffarnagar city. The administration is planning to take the help of bulk SMSes to counter the rumour-mongering. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has appealed people to refrain from violence.
Moreover the Supreme Court will today hear a PIL, seeking CBI probe into the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, and for ensuring safe passage to people stuck due to the clashes. A bench headed by Justice GS Singhvi yesterday agreed to give an urgent hearing to the PIL, posting the hearing for today.
The PIL was filed seeking court's direction to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government to find out the reason behind the communal clashes in the state and to take immediate steps to control the violence. The PIL also sought that the affected persons should be properly rehabilitated and the culprits behind the incident must be brought to book. The petitioners alleged that houses of around 20,000 people have been burnt and they must be provided temporary shelter and food and medicines be also supplied to the affected families.
