A splinter group of Jai Gurudeo, headed by Ramvriksh Yadav and his followers, illegally encroached upon 270 acres of land in Jawahar Bagh, Mathura, two years back, on the pretext of a dharna. During the anti-encroachment drive, on the orders of Allahabad High Court to vacate the land, the activists opened fire and attacked the police, leaving 24 people, including two police officials dead. A report.
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Javeed Ahmed informed that 24 people, including a Superintendent of Police (City) Mukul Dwivedi, and Farha Station House Officer (SHO) Santosh Kumar Yadav were killed in the clashes, on Thursday night, in Mathura’s Jawahar Bagh area.
The clash between the police and encroachers triggered the massive violence during an anti-encroachment drive, said the DGP, while addressing a press conference in the state capital on Friday. He said that other than the two cops, all twenty-two people were the ones who indulged in arson.
The violence erupted when the police were trying to evict illegal occupants of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, a splinter group of Jai Gurudeo, from Jawahar Bagh, on the directions of the Allahabad High Court, on Thursday.
The DGP added that 124 people were arrested on charges of causing loss to government property and murder and 196 more were arrested under Section 153 offences. He added that the main accused, Ramvriksh Yadav, who is absconding with some of his followers, will be charged under the National Security Act.
The DGP further added that 47 locally made katta (country made) pistols, 6 rifles and 178 live cartridges were seized from the spot.
The chief minister Akhilesh Yadav ordered a probe by the divisional commissioner of Mathura, according to an official spokesperson.
DGP Javed Ahmed and Principal Secretary (Home) Debashish Panda have rushed to Mathura.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he has reviewed the situation in Mathura. “I have spoken to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and reviewed the situation in Mathura. I have assured him of all possible help from the Centre. I am anguished over the loss of lives in the incident in Mathura. May God give strength to the bereaved families,” Rajnath Singh said.
District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar said that the activists hurled hand grenades and opened fire from automatic weapons after taking the position on tree tops.
He added that the entire area was filled with smoke following explosions from hand grenades and LPG cylinders and several huts caught fire.
Over two years ago, Ramvriksh Yadav along with the activists of splinter group of Baba Jai Gurudeo had occupied 270 acres of land of Jawahar Bagh, a public property, on the pretext of ‘dharna’
Their demands included “cancellation” of the election of President and Prime Minister of India, replacement of existing currency with ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ currency, sale of diesel at the rate of 60 litres for one rupee and petrol at the rate of 40 litres for one rupee.
The High Court had, acting on a PIL, directed the authorities to vacate the land.
In April, Mathura district administration has issued a notice to the protesters asking them to vacate the land.
Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has demanded the resignation of the Uttar Pradesh govt., stressing for a time-bound judicial probe into the incident.
Meanwhile, the mother of Superintendent of Police Mukul Dwivedi, who was killed yesterday in clashes during a drive to evict illegal occupants of a park in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district, on Friday rejected the compensation offered by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and said she wants her son back instead.
Sobbing inconsolably, she said, “I don’t want money. The Chief Minister should bring back my son. The Chief Minister can take Rs. 20 lakh from us. They sent my son to Mathura so that he gets killed. What will I do now? I have two sons, one is in Dubai. Before he was in Bareilly, but he was promoted to Mathura.”
The state government has announced an exgratia of Rs. 20 lakh each for the families of the two martyred policemen.
Pix: From Net
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