Aligarh still tense, no relaxation in curfew

Aligarh, Apr 8 (UNI) Curfew remained in force in the riot-hit Aligarh town for the third day today even as the state government set up two-member high level committee to probe the outbreak of communal violence here on Thursday.

The Committee, comprising Principal Secretary, Agriculture Arun Kumar Mishra and DG, Police Headquaters S K Rizvi has been asked to submit its report in a week's time.

Curfew was imposed in this communally-sensitive town of of West UP on April six after the violence in which four persons were killed, though unofficial sources put the toll at six. The areas under curfew are Kotwali, Sasni Gate, Delhi Gate,Banna Devi and Gandhi Park police circles.

At least 120 persons had so far been arrested in connection with the communal flare up, while a compensation of Rs five lakh each has been announced to the kin of the deceased by the state government while an additional sum of Rs 2.5 lakh compensation was announced by the Central government as well.

Senior police officials including Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order (ADG) and IG were camping here to monitor the situation.

Taking serious note of the violence, UP government has already suspended six officers inlcuding the District Magistrate R K Singh, Senior Suprintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Anand, City Superintendent of Police S K Verma, Additional District Magistrate Satya Bhan, Circle Officer (City) M P Singh and an SHO.

Mr Bhuvanesh Kumar and Akhil Kumar have been posted as the new DM and SSP respectively.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF), Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and civil police have been strengthened to control the situation, an official spokesman said here.

Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal had visited the injured in the medical college college and later talked to various delegations yesterday.

Meanwhile, Maulana Bukhari, the Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, was stopped at Ghaziabad while on his way to Aligarh, the officials said.

UNI SB/MB VD HT1322