21 killed in spiralling violence in Muzaffarnagar

September 8, 2013

Muzaffarnagar, Sep 8: At least 10 more people were killed in spiralling violence in Muzaffarnagar on Sunday, taking the toll to 21 in the western UP district where the army staged flag marches and thousands of anti-riot police personnel were deployed to restore law and order.

“As it (violence) is going on in several villages, it is taking time to defuse the situation,” Additional Director General of Police Arun Kumar, who took stock of the situation in the affected areas, told PTI here.Muzaffarnagar1

District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that 21 people have died in the violence so far. However, in Lucknow, UP Home Secretary Kamal Saxena said that 19 people have so far been killed in the violence, including 11 on Saturday.

Mr. Saxena said that adequate force has been deployed in the affected areas and incidents of violence have been reported from Sisauli, Shahpur, Fugna, Kalapar and Dhaurakala areas of Muzaffarnagar.

In one place Army had to resort to firing after someone opened fire at them, he said. Asked whether shoot at site orders have been given, Saxena said that directives have been issued to control the situation and for that if necessary firing can be done.

While curfew remained in force in Civil Lines, Kotwali and Nai Mandi town areas of the district with Army carrying out a flag march, violence has now spread to more rural areas.

ADG Kumar, who was escorted by a massive contingent of security personnel, claimed that only four police station areas were affected.

Officials said apart from army, 10,000 Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel, 1300 CRPF men and 1200 Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed.

In Kutba, where four people were killed, mobs set ablaze a religious place, several shops and vehicles. In Phugana village, cops said three members of a community had taken shelter in a police station, fearing violence.

The other badly affected villages were Shahpur, Bhuvana, Basi Kala.

Army’s assistance has been sought by UP government in nearby Shamli and Meerut district, Amry sources said.

Mulayam meets Akhilesh as army stages flag march

Facing flak from the opposition over Muzaffarnagar communal clashes, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday held a meeting with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, ministers and senior officials while the Army staged a flag march in the strife-torn district.

Mr. Yadav held the meeting at his residence on Sunday afternoon in which Chief Secretary Javed Usmani, Principal Secretary Home RM Srivastava and several ministers were also present, sources said.

Expressing displeasure over spurt in violence, Yadav asked them to ensure that law and order is maintained in the state.

“The incident is unfortunate. Our government is committed to strictly dealing with such incidents. Directives have been issued in this regard,” U.P. minister Shahid Manzoor told reporters after the meeting.

However, SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury, who too was present at the meeting, did not elaborate details.

“It was not a meeting. We went there for talks...,” Mr. Chowdhury said avoiding questions.

Meanwhile, taking potshots at the ruling party, BJP spokesman Manoj Mishra said, "with Mulayam taking the charge, it has been proved that the present chief minister failed.”

“Due to failure of the present Chief Minister, Mulayam had to take the charge. It has been proved that the government has failed on administrative front,” Mr. Mishra said in a statement.

Meanwhile, following the violence in parts of West UP, Army was pressed into service in Muzzaffarnagar, Shamli and Meerut district, Amry sources said here.

“Eight Army columns from Meerut under Brigadier Jagdeep reached Muzaffarnagar early in the morning and had a meeting with the senior officials of the state police and the civil administration.

“Immediately after the meeting, the Army columns were located in various sensitive areas of the city,” they said.

The Army columns also conducted a mounted flag march in Muzaffarnagar.

Another call for requisitioning Army assistance in Shamli was received from the District Magistrate and accordingly one Army column was moved from Meerut to Shamli.

“Requisition for Army assistance in Meerut was received this afternoon. One more column is being located in Meerut,” they said.

Related: Mulayam holds emergency meet on Muzaffarnagar violence

Toll in UP communal clashes rises to 14

Muzaffarnagar: Army stages flag march; death toll climbs to 12

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Agencies
August 3,2020

New Delhi, Aug 3: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended warm greetings and good wishes to the countrymen on the occasion of Rakshabandhan.

The President in his message said, "Greetings on Raksha Bandhan! Rakhi is the sacred thread of love and trust that connects sisters with brothers in a special bond. On this day, let us reiterate our commitment to secure the honour and dignity of women."

"Many wishes to all the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan," Prime Minister Modi tweeted in Hindi.

Rakshabandhan, which is being celebrated today, is a celebration of the unique bond between brothers and sisters. Tying of the Rakhi by sisters, symbolises love, affection and mutual trust between brothers and sisters. 

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News Network
June 18,2020

New Delhi, Jun 18: For the 12th consecutive day, state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) has increased the price of fuel on Thursday.

The price of petrol is increased by 53 paise a litre while that of diesel by 64 paise a litre.

Petrol and diesel will now cost Rs 77.81/litre and Rs 76.43/litre respectively in Delhi.

Notably, oil marketing companies have been adjusting retail rates in line with costs after an 82-day break from rate revision amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. These firms on June 7 restarted revising prices in line with costs.

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News Network
May 19,2020

New Delhi, May 19: In a fresh blow to saffronite journalist Arnab Goswami, the Supreme Court of India today rejected his plea seeking transfer of the investigation of a case, filed against him for defaming Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, to the CBI. The court also refused to quash the FIRs filed against him.

Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV, has been booked in connection with a TV show on the gathering of migrants outside Bandra railway station on April 14. This apart, multiple FIRs have been filed against him for his show on Palghar lynching. In that show, he had posed certain questions on the incident to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, following which Congress workers lodged complaints against him in various states.

Extending Goswami’s interim protection from arrest by three weeks, the Supreme Court said, “Right of a journalist under 19 1 (a) higher…Free citizens can’t exist if news media can’t speak.”

During the earlier hearing, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Goswami, had urged the court to transfer the probe to an agency like CBI. He said the “nature of the” second FIR against Goswami over a show on the migrant gathering outside Bandra station on April 14 “shows that it’s arm-twisting tactic”. 

“They are trying to stifle an unpleasant voice. This is a political party targeting a journalist. All complainants are members of one political party. They have a problem with the government. They want to teach this journalist a lesson,” he added.

Objecting to Salve’s plea to transfer the case to the CBI, Maharashtra government counsel, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, had said, “CBI investigation will go into your hands”. 

Sibal denied that Goswami was being harassed and said he was only asked relevant questions. He said Goswami should “stop this communal violence and communal mongering”.

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