UP bloodshed could spread across the country: Intelligence Bureau

Lucknow, Sept 10: As the sectarian violence in the Muzaffarnagar district of western Uttar Pradesh remains unabated, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has warned that the bloodshed could spread across various states of the country including Karnataka.

According to a report, the IB inputs have indicated that the communal flare-up in Muzaffarnagar and various villages is 'far from over'.

The startling report has been shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs by the IB.

On September 3 and 4, the IB and home ministry sent two alerts to states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Kerala warning against communal violence.

Last week, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, along with the Home Secretary Anil Goswami, met chief secretaries and police chiefs of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, and asked them to be prepared to check incidents of communal violence by strengthening intelligence gathering mechanisms and preventive arrests.

The report says that further violence can trigger in communally-sensitive areas of western UP.
Aligarh, Bareilly, Hapur, Mathura,, Meerut, Moradabad, Rampur, Saharanpur and Shamli have been identified as areas where riots may erupt due to Muzaffarnagar clashes.

A home ministry official said, "The current situation in Muzaffarnagar has the potential to spread to other parts. If violence continues in rural areas it could snowball into major problem."

Sources said that intelligence report also revealed the violence may have been incited by the local politicians.

An official said, "There are reports that local leaders made inflammatory speeches that worsened the situation."

UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP, Karnataka, Haryana and J& K have been alerted.

On Saturday, the Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that such incidents of communal violence are likely to occur ahead of elections.

Shinde also said that the Centre has alerted 11 states following intelligence inputs about possible communal incidents.

Violence began when some people pelted stones at a bus carrying people to a "mahapanchayat" where elders of two religious groups were meeting to sort out the simmering tension between them ever since three youth were killed Aug 27 in an incident of stalking of a girl.

Meanwhile, security was beefed up on trains bound for western Uttar Pradesh and others crossing the region after some people hurled stones at trains in Shamli Monday evening.

Under fire over the Muzaffarnagar clashes which have claimed 38 lives, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said efforts were being made to ensure there were no more violent incidents and warned strict action against those found guilty for the communal flare-up.

"The government would deal strictly with all those who have tried to create communal chasm and harm the atmosphere of Muzaffarnagar and Uttar Pradesh," Yadav told reporters after the state cabinet meeting here.

"It would be our efforts that the communal amity is strengthened and no new incidents are allowed to take place in areas where situation has been brought under control," he said.

OneIndia News

(With Agency inputs)