Date:18/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/18/stories/2005101816141200.htm

National

Committee to probe communal strife in Mau

Violence spreads to neighbouring Ballia, Ghazipur districts

MAU/LUCKNOW: Amidst a curfew and shoot-at-sight orders, an uneasy calm prevailed in Mau town on Monday even as the flare-up spread to the neighbouring Ballia and Ghazipur districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The Mulayam Singh Yadav Government, drawing flak over the handling of the communal strife, set up a three-member committee to probe the circumstances leading to the rioting. It would submit its report within three weeks, the Chief Minister said at a press conference in Lucknow.

252 arrested

Mr. Yadav said the communal frenzy that erupted in Mau on Thursday night over Dussehra festivities had claimed seven lives and left 36 persons, including seven policemen, wounded. In all, 252 people had been arrested in connection with rioting.

As the police and the Rapid Action Force patrolled the streets and indefinite curfew and shoot-at-sight orders remained in force, an uneasy calm prevailed in the town. Principal Secretary (Home) Alok Sinha said the situation was under control, and a decision on the relaxation of curfew would be taken after further reviewing the situation.

Shops torched

In the neighbouring Ballia district, several shops belonging to a particular community were torched in Bhimpura area.

A report from Ghazipur said some shops were burnt in the Kasimbad area. A jeep belonging to a supporter of Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari was also torched.

Mr. Sinha, however, said he had no knowledge of communal violence in the two districts. — PTI