Bareilly curfew enters 13th day

Bareilly (UP), Mar 13 (ANI): A large part of Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district is under curfew for the 13th day running today.

On Friday, at least 15 people, including a senior police officer, were injured when members of a community clashed with police to protest the release of a Muslim cleric.

The community members indulged in vandalism and protested against the release of Maulana Tauquir Raza Khan, president of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, who was arrested for his alleged role in communal violence in Bareilly.

After unruly people protested in areas of Subhashnagar Police Station, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas cannisters to control them.

Additional Director General (Law and Order) Brij Lal said: "The situation is still tense, but under control. For vandalism and violent protests, we have arrested 10 people".

Meanwhile, political parties are now vying with one another in a game of upmanship.

Chief Minister Mayawati set the ball rolling by releasing the Maulana.

A move to ensure that the Maulana's angry supporters did not resort to more violence, and Muslim vote was pacified. But the Maulana's release angered the Bajrang Dal whose activists set fire to shops and vehicles.

The Congress and the Samajwadi Party leaders also tried to reach Bareilly but were prevented by the administration. (ANI)