Saharanpur: 25 arrested, SSP and DM suspended after fresh violence

NEW DELHI: Two senior police officers of Saharanpur were removed on Wednesday over inability to  assess the situation and prevent the fresh bout of caste violence in the district. Saharanpur SSP Subash Chandra Dubey and DM were suspended by the Uttar Pradesh government after chief minister Yogi Adityanath convened a meeting of senior officials. "Situation is under control, we are monitoring everything and will be camping here (at the scene) till normalcy returns," IANS quoted Home Secretary Mani Prasad Mishra as saying. Twenty-five persons were also arrested. The action was taken following a fresh clash in which two people were attacked in Nanota Badgaum area after they were suspected to be ‘Dalits’. One of the victims was also shot at. The victims were belonged to Prajapati clan. This happened only a few hours after a violent clash took place between the Dalits and the Rajputs before and after BSP chief Mayawati's visit to Saharanpur on Wednesday. One died and several others sustained injuries when a group of Dalits returning from Mayawati's meeting in a car was allegedly attacked by men belonging to upper caste with sharp-edged weapons and guns. The attackers fired their guns and wielded batons, killing Ashish (24) on the spot and injuring four others. Saharanpur has been in the grip of caste violence in recent days. Mayawati during her visit held the BJP-led UP government responsible for the violence and alleged that the ruling party had failed to stop its own brigade from attacking weaker sections. Thousands of people had staged a massive protest on Sunday at Jantar Mantar in against alleged atrocities on Dalits in Saharanpur. The protest was called by an organisation known as the Bhim Army. While demanding justice from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the protestors alleged that the state government was mistreating the Dalits. The May 5 violence in Saharanpur had taken place when a procession by Thakurs, sporting saffron scarves and marking the birth anniversary of 16th-century Rajput king Maharana Pratap, entered Jatav settlements.