After Communal Violence in Kasganj, Police Bank on Drones to Keep Peace

Lucknow: OP Singh is facing his first big challenge as the police chief of Uttar Pradesh but insists that all is calm in communally sensitive Kasganj where two days of violence resulted in the loss of one life, torching of shops and buses, and attack on a religious structure.

Singh’s assurances notwithstanding, the ground reality is different. Tension continued to simmer in the area, with a few shops being attacked on Sunday morning despite curfew.

To ease the tension, security forces carried out flag marches in the area, while DGP Singh said the police were conducting intensive patrolling and surveillance through drones to keep peace.

“We are doing intensive patrolling and surveillance through drones. The situation is under control. Arrests have also been made and adequate security forces have been deployed,” he told reporters.

Internet services have been suspended in the trouble-hit area.

The area first witnessed violence on Republic Day when a few people riding motorcycles and carrying Tricolours were pelted with stones. One person was killed in the clashes that ensued. Fresh violence broke out on Saturday when a group returning from the funeral attacked shops and a religious structure. Few more shops and buses were torched in the evening.

Police on Saturday also stopped firebrand leader Sadhvi Prachi in Aligarh and prevented her from visiting Kasganj.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described the violence as unfortunate, and said the people behind it would not go unpunished.

But Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sunil Singh 'Sajan' demanded more than just assurance from the state government. "The UP government must act tough on the anti-social elements, so that this acts as a deterrent for others."

UP Congress spokesperson Virendra Madan suggested the violence was connected to Lok Sabha polls, due next year. "The state government must show seriousness and control the situation at the earliest... Is there any possible link of this violence with 2019 Lok Sabha elections for polarisation?"

(With PTI inputs)