NEW DELHI, Nov 25: Close on the heels of the disturbances at Sambhal over a court-ordered survey of a mosque, violence erupted at Etah in Uttar Pradesh on Monday after a group of people opposed construction on a private plot claiming it to be Waqf property.
Officials said the incident occurred Jalesar town and left several people injured, causing significant property damage. So far, two accused have been arrested and a case has been registered against 16 named suspects and around 150 unidentified others.
The incident comes just days after at least four people died and scores, including police personnel, were injured in Sambhal after a violent confrontation erupted over a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque.
The Jalesar clash took place when some individuals, allegedly led by an accused named Rafiq, attempted to halt construction activities on a plot of land situated near a Dargah. The plot is owned by one Anil Kumar Upadhyay and others, according to police, but the mob claimed that the said property belonged to the Waqf board.
The group then allegedly demolished a boundary wall with hammers, damaged over a dozen vehicles, and engaged in stone pelting as well, the police said.
Upon receiving reports of the violence, SSP Shyam Narayan Singh and Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rajkumar Singh reached the site to assess the situation. A large police contingent, including PAC personnel, was deployed to restore peace.
(Manas Dasgupta)
