Who is fanning the violence in Saharanpur? This is the million dollar question haunting the administration. Ever since the formation of the Yogi government, Saharanpur, a border district in UP, has witnessed clash between dalits and Thakurs for the fourth time. Dalits, 150 of them, embraced Buddhism after getting exasperated that they are not getting their dues in newly formed Yogi government. They accuse the government of siding with the upper castes who have committed atrocities on them.
The police have named the head of the Bheem army, a caste based reactionary organisation, for fanning violence in the region, in its investigation reports. If one goes by the police and intelligence reports, the needle of suspicion points towards Bheem army. Cops have been searching for Chandrashekhar Azad, the founder of the army. The 30-year-old has been named in one out of 20 FIRs filed by the police.
There are reports that BSP is covertly supporting the Bheem army in their fight against upper castes, though the cops are still probing their association. According to police, it does not have any criminal record of the outfit, but interesting facts are expected out of the investigation.
Currently, social media and internet services have been banned to prevent the circulation of provocative material. The district magistrate and senior superintendent of police, both responsible for maintaining law and order in the district, have been suspended. Top officials from Lucknow are camping in Saharanpur.
It may be recalled that violence in Saharanpur started on May 11, a week after the Thakurs (upper caste) allegedly burnt down houses in Shabbirpur village following complaints by dalits over loud music played during celebrations of Maharana Pratap Jayanti. Following this, some people were attacked on Tuesday near Badgaon when they were returning from a BSP chief Mayawati's rally. In this violent incident one person was killed.
Sources said the district administration was alerted about the fact that Mayawati’s visit may aggravate tension in an already burning Saharanpur, but the administration took the intelligence input lightly and gave Mayawati permission to visit the area.
A BSP delegation headed by party general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra has met the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and appraised the CM of fresh bout of violence.
