M A I N   N E W S

15 killed in UP clashes
Shahira Naim

Lucknow, November 17
Clashes over property at a remote Sitapur village since late last night till early this morning claimed 15 lives as men armed with countrymade weapons of rival gangs chased villagers. Among the dead are six women, five men and four children. The glaring inefficiency of the police was established when no one bothered to visit the village despite firing and cries of hapless villagers.

The first police team arrived on the scene almost 10 hours after the first round of killings had taken place. The Than Goan police station is barely 2 km away.

There were unconfirmed reports of Governor T.V. Rajeswar summoning DGP Bua Singh to get a first-hand report of the massacre. The SP of Sitapur, Mr Daya Sherpa, had been transferred on November 16 as routine transfers.

Media Secretary, Home Department, Arun Sinha said two persons had been arrested in this regard. Confirming that ADG, Law and Order, Padam Singh and other senior officials were camping at the site of the massacre, he said the situation was tense but under control. Additional PAC force had been rushed to the area.