NEW DELHI, June 4: An uneasy calm prevailed in the riot-hit areas in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday after police booked about 500 people for rioting and violence which left over 40 people injured on Friday, official sources said.
The trouble broke out in Pared, Nai Sadak and Yateemkhana areas of the city after Friday namaz when some people tried to force shopkeepers to down shutters in protest against alleged offensive remarks by a BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in a television debate recently.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Anand Prakash Tiwari said 18 people have been arrested so far over the Friday incident and some others are detained for questioning. “The area is peaceful and we are maintaining a round-the-clock vigil,” he said, adding some suspects were detained overnight by various police teams.
“Three FIRs over rioting and violence have been lodged against over 500 people,” Tiwari said.
At least 40 people including 20 police personnel were injured during the clashes, police said on Saturday. Those who allegedly forced traders to shut shops clashed with police personnel who used batons to disperse the mob. Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar has warned that those involved will be booked under the stringent Gangsters Act and their properties seized or demolished.
(Manas Dasgupta)