In Uttar Pradesh, a tense calm prevails in Kanth area of Moradabad where BJP workers and several of its leaders tried to defy the ban on Mahapanchayat and clashed with Police Friday. Eight battalions of PAC, two of RAF besides heavy Police forces are deployed in and around Kanth.

Police has lodged FIR against 500 unidentified people. So far 65 persons have been arrested for Friday’s clash.

Divisional Commissioner, Moradabad, Shiv Shankar Singh told AIR Allahabad correspondent that senior Civil and Police officers including officiating District Magistrate and District Police Chief are camping at Kanth to monitor the situation.

Replying to a question the Commissioner said that reinstallation of loudspeaker at the temple in Akbarpur Chaitary is out of question as loudspeakers were allowed at the temple only during the Mahashivaratri festival.

He said administration would not allow for starting new trend at the temple. He said ban on the Mahapanchayat will continue and nobody would be allowed to hold it in the district.