Tension prevailed in Shamli district of Western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday after several people including 16 policemen were injured during a protest by members of minority group at a police station.
Police said that the angry mob was protesting the alleged misbehaviour with a five-member group of Tableeghi Jammat volunteers, who had come from Maharashtra, by some youths in Delhi-Kandhla train. Tableeghi Jammat is a global group of practicing Muslims who travel and preaching religion among Muslims.
Reports said that Muslim jamat group was assaulted by some unidentified persons near Sujra village of Baghpat district in a train on Friday night. A complaint was lodged at Kandhla police station in Shamli by a group of people demanding actions against the culprits.
Upon getting the information, locals reached Kandhla police station and demanded actions against the culprits. They also announced to intensify their agitation if culprits were not nabbed. In the morning on Saturday the issue once again was raised by locals. It is reported that Samajwadi Party MLA Nahid Hasan along with his supporters reached Kandhla-Budhana rail route and squatted demanding arresting of culprits.
After assurance from district administration, the MLA got up and left the scene along with his supporters but a section of crowd refused to budge.With no leader, the crowd pelted stones on some trains at railway station. Meanwhile, police also resorted to lathicharge. Enraged protestors again reached the police station at Kandhla, demanding actions.
With no assurance, it again got berserk and some vehicles at police station were torched. Around noon, police succeeded in controlling the situation. A named FIR against five persons including ex chairman of Kandha Nagar Palika and two thousand unknown persons was registered.
The divisional commissioner Tanvir Zafar Ali, IG Police Alok Sharma and other senior officers are present on the spot and keeping a close vigil on the situation. The PAC and police jawans have been deployed in the area. The administration claims that situation is totally under control. Realising the sensitivity of the matter, state government has rushed extra force with senior officials camping in Kandhla