Lucknow, October 15
Amidst demand to hand over Mau to the Army violence continued unabated on the third day today. Officially, three persons have died and 28 injured. However, the figure could be much higher. The police issued shoot at sight order for curfew violators.
The city’s booming power loom industry received a severe setback as several factories that usually run inside the residential areas were gutted destroying expensive equipment running into lakhs. According to a local trader Mr Faqruzaman, who has a shop near Rauza many machine made embroidery units were destroyed and godowns were charred beyond recognition.
“In the festive season when we, traders were preparing for a bumper Divali and Eid sales, and stocking goods, such widespread losses are difficult to bear,” he said in a choked voice.
Suddenly waking up to the seriousness of the persistent communal violence, DGP Yashpal Singh rushed to Mau on Saturday. Home Secretary Alok Sinha also made a whirlwind tour of the city to ensure that the violence comes to an end.
Briefing the Press, Mr Sinha said two ADGs would continue to camp in Mau to closely monitor the situation. The city has been divided into 25 sectors to facilitate imposition of law and order. Eightynine preventive arrests have also been made to ensure peace. While peace committees have being activated, the Commissioner, Azamgarh, has asked local residents to abstain from rumour mongering. Restraining political leaders from entering the city has been left to the local administration.
Mr Sinha confirmed the loss of 25 shops and business establishments in the arson. He also conceded that while two deaths had been due to the public clashes one person had succumbed to police firing.
However, after an uneasy calm during the night, fresh violence erupted around 9 a.m. It continued sporadically throughout the day. Local channels showed visuals of shops and houses on fire.
The Home Department has claimed that with the arrival of five companies of the PAC and two companies of the RAF, patrolling had been intensified in the city. However, residents claimed that policemen were visible only on the main thoroughfares.
According to Mr Anis Ahmad, Principal of the local Muslim Inter College, the police has completely failed in enforcing the curfew. “Rioters ran berserk in the narrow lanes and by lanes setting houses and shops on fire. From our terrace we can see flames and clouds of smoke rising from different parts of the city,” informed Mr Ahmad.
Ten seriously injured persons have been shifted to the Banaras Hindu University Hospital. The remaining are being treated in the district hospital. Local residents claim that there are many more injured people who are being treated inside their homes as with the curfew and shoot at sight orders they dare not move out.
The state government has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the dead and Rs 25,000 for the injured.
The blame game started even before the violence subsided. Political parties have jumped into the fray for maximum political mileage. Apprising Governor T.V. Rajeswar of the situation over the telephone, the state BJP leadership demanded the imposition of President’s rule in the state.
According to state BJP president Keshari Nath Tripathi, the administrative machinery had failed to maintain rule of law.
Mr Sinha answering mediapersons denied receiving any such request from the BJP.
