The Centre has dispatched a contingent of anti-riot personnel to Saharanpur on the request of the Uttar Pradesh government to stop sporadic caste violence which has left two dead and dozens injured since May 5.
“Four companies (around 400 personnel) of the Rapid Action Force have been sent to Saharanpur to help the state government maintain law and order following a request of the Uttar Pradesh government,” home ministry spokesperson Ashok Prasad told reporters here on Thursday.
The spiral of caste violence between Thakurs and Dalits in Saharanpur has claimed two lives and left 29 injured while the state police have registered 36 FIRs so far, the Uttar Pradesh government has informed the Centre on Thursday.
The state government has also claimed that the situation is now under control.
According to a report sent by the UP government to the Centre, on May 5 caste violence in Saharanpur claimed one life and left 15 people injured. The state police registered nine first information reports (FIRs) in connection with the violence and arrested 17 suspects.
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{{/usCountry}}The report stated that there was another outbreak of violence on May 9 in which vehicles were burnt and 12 policemen were injured in the clashes. The police registered 24 FIRs that day.
On May 23, one person was shot dead and two others were injured in yet another round of violence, says the report. The police registered three FIRs and arrested 24 more suspects.
Following the intermittent violence, the state government on Wednesday suspended the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police, Saharanpur. The divisional commissioner and the deputy inspector general of police were also transferred.