Violence-hit UP town continues to be tense

 Violence continued to rock the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday as members of two communities exchanged fire and indulged in heavy stone throwing at Shahpur.

A youth was shot dead in the area on Wednesday evening when he was returning home from work. The killing triggered widespread protest and a mob later torched several vehicles and damaged shops and houses.

According to sources, the people of Rasoolpur Jatan village had gone to Shahpur to meet Harveer Arya, who had been attacked by a violent mob on Wednesday evening.
They were allegedly fired at and soon the two communities started throwing stones at each other and also exchanged fire.

Security personnel managed to disperse the mob but later hundreds of people laid siege to the police station demanding action against the attackers. Security personnel had been deployed in the area and senior officials were monitoring the situation, sources added.

Additional Director-General of Police (law and order) Mukul Goel said 6,000 people have been booked in connection with the violence and the special investigation team will be probing the clashes.

Last week, four people were killed in the district triggering tension after days of lull.
The police said security personnel had been deployed both in the urban and rural areas of the district to maintain law and order and senior officials were camping in the district to monitor the situation.

Security forces have been patrolling the troubled areas, the officials said. The situation was tense but under control.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said there appeared to be a deliberate attempt to foment trouble in Muzaffarnagar. He added that stern action would be taken against trouble mongers. At least 62 people were killed and over a 100 injured in the communal riots that rocked Muzaffarnagar, Meerut and Shamli districts last month.

Thousands of people, who had fled following the violence, are still living in relief camps.