M A I N   N E W S

3 more killed in Kanpur

Kanpur, March 17
In a flare-up of communal violence, three persons were killed and a police Sub-Inspector was injured here today as frenzied groups set on fire five places of worship and about 40 shops belonging to minorities forcing the authorities to issue shoot-at-sight orders and extend indefinite curfew in two more areas.

Two persons were killed in the Moolganj area and another died in Beconganj, officials said, adding that so far 90 persons have been taken into custody.

The UP government, taking serious note of the large-scale communal disturbances in the city, ordered the replacement of the District Magistrate, Mrs Anita Bhatnagar Jain, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr G.P. Sharma, by Mr B.S. Bhullar and Mr Arun Kumar, respectively.

The Rapid Action Force and the Provincial Armed Constabulary had been deployed in curfew-bound areas of eight police stations as the authorities struggled to bring normalcy following yesterday’s clash between activists of the Students Islamic Movement in India and the police in the walled city that left six persons, including an Additional District Magistrate, dead.

The sources said the SIMI activists made an abortive attempt to attack a police station triggering an exchange of fire between the two sides. PTI