Lucknow, March 5
Even before the probe report was submitted, the state government has transferred two officers and suspended one on charges of laxity to control Friday’s communal riots.
With shops opening and more people visible on the streets life apparently seemed to be returning to normal. However, heavy police presence gave away the fact the situation was still tense. From tomorrow, the Uttar Pradesh Board High School and intermediate examinations will take place as scheduled.
ADM (West) Ramaraj Maurya and ASP (West) Umesh Chandra Srivastava were transferred, while SHO Aminabad Adesh Sharma has been suspended.
Terming the violence as a “pre-planned conspiracy” hatched by the Samajwadi Party and the BJP to garner votes, the Congress has demanded a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge.
Speaking to mediapersons, Congress legislative party leader Pramod Tiwari lashed
out at the ruling party for allowing the violence to continue unabated for four hours. “There was total chaos and the rule of the jungle prevailed”. Substantiating his charge, Tiwari said an FIR filed by Rajrani Sonkar of Maulviganj at the Aminabad police station had named the Samajwadi Party city president as an accused in the murder of his son Guddu in the violence.
UPCC President Salman Khurshid charged the district administration of not allowing a delegation of the party to visit riot-affected areas today on the plea that it may make matters worse.
“There is no curfew imposed in the areas. We were not allowed to visit and assist in the relief and rehabilitation work like any other people.”
Giving the district administration 48 hours to bring the situation completely under control, Khurshid threatened to launch an agitation if they are not allowed to go there even after that.
