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UP government steps up security in Saharanpur to diffuse caste-related violence

by IBNS 24 May 2017, 11:11 am

Lucknow, May 24 (IBNS): The Uttar Pradesh government has rushed additional police personnel, including senior government officials, to Saharanpur district to keep the situation under control following the caste clashes, according to media reports on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, one Dalit man was killed and several injured in a clash between Dalits and Rajputs.

The latest violence erupted in Shabbirpur, the village in Saharanpur, which has witnessed two such incidents in as many months, allegedly occurred after a visit by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and Dalit leader Mayawati on Tuesday.

According to media reports, a group of Dalits allegedly threw stones at the homes of a few Rajputs in Shabbirpur before BSP chief Mayawati's rally, which led to the tension between the two communities.

Clashes broke out again when a truck carrying Dalits back to their village were allegedly by Thakurs in the area, when a Dalit man died, media reported.

Mayawati held the BJP-led UP government responsible for the violence in Saharanpur, according to media reports.

NDTV, quoted a UP government statement, which said, "It was expected that the visit of the former chief minister would help restore peace in Saharanpur but this has not happened and it's sad. Peace had been restored in Saharanpur but the former chief minister's visit led to tension followed by the unfortunate incident where one person has died."