Curfew in Aligarh continues; 1 more succumbs to injuries

Aligarh, Apr 9: Curfew imposed in parts of Aligarh after Thursday's communal flare up continued for the fourth day today while a person injured in a shooting incident yesterday succumbed to wounds late last night, bringing the toll to six.

Police said curfew in Delhi Gate, Sasni Gate and Kotwali police station areas continued. ''Since a new team of district and police officials have taken over, we cannot relax curfew though the situation is fast returning to normal,'' Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Law and Order Padman Singh told UNI.

A man injured in a shooting incident yesterday during distribution of essential commodities in Hathipul area died of wounds in a local hospital last night. He is yet to be identified.

The latest death has taken up the toll to six. However, sources claimed that it was actually eight.

Keeping in mind the sensitive situation, the district administration has banned the entry of political leaders into Aligarh. ''There are chances of the law and order situation getting out of control,'' Mr Singh added.

Meanwhile, the two-member high-level committee comprising principal secretary agriculture Arun Kumar Mishra and DG Police Headquaters S K Rizvi to probe the outbreak of communal violence has commenced its work. It has been asked to submit report within a week.

At least 175 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.

An additional sum of Rs 2.5 lakh compensation was announced by the Centre as well.

Taking serious note of the violence, UP government has already suspended six officers inlcuding DM R K Singh, SSP Ajay Anand, SP City S K Verma, ADM Satya Bhan, Circle Officer M P Singh and an SHO.

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

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

UNI

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