After Mobile Internet Ban, Section 144 imposed in Saharanpur

The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has come down heavily on the administrative and police officials who have failed to control the inter-caste violence in Saharanpur. On Wednesday, late in the evening, Saharanpur Senior Superintendent of Police, Subash Chandra Dubey was shunted out. UP Police tweeted that Dubey has been attached with the Director General of Police, Headquarters in Lucknow.

While Saharanpur Deputy Inspector General (DIG), JK Shahi was transferred, District Magistrate NP Singh was suspended by the state government, according to reports.

In order to curb rumour mongering, which has also helped in spreading violence in Saharanpur, mobile internet services have also been suspended. The state government has stopped messaging services.

Since May 5, Saharanpur has turned into a hotbed of caste-based violence. On Tuesday, series of fresh clashes between the Dalit and Thakur community occured before and after Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati’s programme in Shabirpur village. One Dalit was killed and around 20 were injured in the attacks allegedly by the Thakur community.

Over 30 were arrested by the police in connection to Tuesday’s violence.

Importantly, this is the fifth act of violence in the area and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led UP government, had blamed Mayawati for the series of violence. “Some people have tried to create uneasiness at Saharanpur. Mayawati must not play case politics and help to maintain harmony,” said UP minister Shrikant Sharma.

[UPDATE]

Section 144 was imposed in Saharanpur to clamp down on stray incidents of violence and to prevent local leaders ​from ​mobilising large groups of people. ​Once in effect, ​Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)​ prohibits assembly of five or more in the area. Every member of such “unlawful assembly” can be booked for “engaging in rioting”, maximum punishment for which is three years.