PFI role in violence in western UP also under examination

Lucknow,December 28(HS) The Uttar Pradesh government which has already collected evidence  of involvement of the Popular Front of India in some other parts is trying to find out if the organisation also had a role in violence in western region of the state.

As many as 20 members of the outfit have been already arrested in connection with anti-CAA stir in the state which has so far claimed 21 lives.Over 400 persons were injured in week-long agitation.

Some of them have been charged with hurling “bombs” and inciting people to indulge in firing and arson,according to official sources here.

Over 300 persons have been already arrested in connection with arson and damage to public property across the  state.

Some leaders of the organistion’s political wing,the Social Democratic Party of India, have been also nabbed.Major incidents of violence had taken in ten districts including Meerut,Muzaffarnagar,Rampur,Sambhal and Bulandshahr in the western part of the state.

Some of these districts are densely populated and have large Muslim presence. Rampur,for instance,has over 50 per cent Muslims.The state capital was not spared.One life was lost here following arson and firing.

The government has formed SIT in different districts to investigate the matter further.It has already identified some rioters and sent notices for auctioning of their property to make good  financial losses suffered during the vandalism.

The government has clarified that this move has been made in the light of order by the Allahabad High Court which was upheld by the Supreme Court later.This model may be adopted by some other states which have also faced large-scale arson.

Karnataka,a BJP-ruled state, is in touch with the state in this connection.