Police foil another flare-up in Saharanpur after Kali idol’s desecration

Timely intervention by police averted another round of violence in Saharanpur district’s Shabbirpur village after miscreants damaged an idol of Hindu Goddess Kali.

Police in western UP’s violence-hit Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur district acted quickly to avert another flare-up on Tuesday after unidentified miscreants damaged an idol of Hindu Goddess Kali in the outskirts of the village.

File photo of administrative officials and the policemen in the violence-hit Sabbirpur village of Saharanpur district . (PTI)

The statue was inside an enclosure of Gram Devta along with idols of other deities where villagers of all castes offer prayers.

A female devotee Mithlesh, offers who prayers to the deity every morning found that the statue of Kali was damaged. She informed the rest of the village and within no time a crowd of angry villagers gathered there.

District Magistrate of Saharanpur P K Pandey and SSP Bablu Kumat then rushed to the spot and counseled the villagers with the help of elders.

The damaged statue was immersed in a nearby canal and a new deity was installed in the temple.

Additional director general of police, Meerut Zone, Anand Kumar said that police have been directed even to keep a close watch in and outside the villages in order to foil attempts of anti social elements to vitiate the atmosphere again.

He claimed that situation was under control and appreciated villagers who cooperated in foiling the nefarious plan of anti social elements.

Shabbirpur village bore the brunt of violence between Thakurs and Dalits this month with the latter alleging that the administration has been favouring the Thakurs. Around 25 houses of Dalits were burnt and damaged in the clashes on May 5.

Last week, the Centre dispatched a 400-member contingent of the Rapid Action Force to help local police maintain peace in the district.