AK-47 rifles used in Muzaffarnagar communal riots?

Updated: Thursday, September 12, 2013, 16:07 [IST]

Muzaffarnagar, Sept 12: During investigations in the communal clashes in the Muzaffarnagar district of western Uttar Pradesh, it has been revealed that AK 47 rifles might have been used in riots.

The UP police officials suspect that there is a clue of AK 47 rifles being used in Muzaffarnagar during the communal riots as their team have recovered AK 47 bullets from the riot-hit areas.

Now, clashes in Baghpat district

As there are reports of normalcy being returned in Muzaffarnagar, now, the neighbouring district Baghpat is witnessing clashes where people of two communities reportedly pelted stones at each other. A constable received severe head injuries during the clashes, who had gone to convene a peace meeting along with the police team.

According to a report, the UP police has recovered 41 cartridges of AK 47 assault rifles from Kirthal village in Baghpat.

On Wednesday, UP police, ADG (law and order) Arun Kumar told reporters, "During a raid in the affected areas, 41 AK 47 cartridges, 17 .9mm pistol cartridges, 1 cartridge of a country made pistol, 1 gun and other weapons were confiscated after the police reached on the spot following reports of tension between two communities."

He also said that search operations will continue and the investigations will be carried on to ascertain how these cartridges, that are only available to the Army and the Police, were available in the riot-hit area.

Baghpat SP Luxmi Singh said that an inquiry has been set up to investigate how the cartridges of banned firearms reached the villagers and what was the purpose of keeping them there.

The clashes have claimed at least 48 lives since August 27. Yesterday, the curfew was lifted for five hours (from 12 noon to 5pm) in three areas of Muzaffarnagar- Civil Lines, Kotwali and Nai Mandi, so that people could do outdoor work.

So far, police has arrested around 1500 people and cancelled 2000 firearms, in connection with the riots.

Helpline launched for missing persons

At least 250 people are reportedly missing since riots took place in Muzaffarnagar. To trace missing persons, police administration has set up a helpline to get details of their whereabouts.

Police has said that family members of missing persons can dial police control room number (PCR) 100 or 9454402574 to register a complaint.

Ajit Singh stopped for visiting Baghpat

Meanwhile, the Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh, who is an elected representative from Baghpat constituency, was stopped from visiting Baghpat today and was briefly detained by the police.

In Muzaffarnagar

A security person walks in a burnt house at Kudba village in violence-hit Muzaffarnagar district on Wednesday.

In Muzaffarnagar

Security personnel keep vigil as people are seen in a shop during the relaxed hours of curfew in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday.

In Muzaffarnagar

Security personnel keep vigil as people are seen on the roads during the relaxed hours of curfew in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday.

In Muzaffarnagar

Security men keep vigil during the curfew in the riot-hit area of Khalapar near Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday.

In Muzaffarnagar

Security personnel conducting search operation for missing people who went missing after returing from maha panchyat on 7 september, at Jolly Village in violence-hit Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday.