For five long hours on September 14, miscreants had a free run in Masuri and neighbouring villages — to plan and execute a night of rioting along NH-24 that left six people dead.
There are reports that public address systems at religious places in Dasna, Masuri, Piplehda, Nahal and Sikrod villages were used to build up and incite the mobs after some pages of a Quran were allegedly found on railway tracks with abuses and a phone number scribbled on them, said officials, requesting anonymity.
Senior police officials, however, say they had no intelligence tip-off on the violence during which the Masuri police station was also attacked. Three Ghaziabad police officials, including those from local intelligence unit, have been suspended and action recommended against two circle officers.
The pages were allegedly found at 1pm but the police were informed only at 6pm.
During the time, troublemakers got busy. Mobile phones were used to pass the news, whip up passions and build a crowd. And they came prepared — carrying country-made weapons, meat cleavers and petrol/kerosene bottles.
The elders tried to pacify them, but failed, said the police. The police firing and violence that followed left five teenagers and a 33-year-old man dead.
{{/usCountry}}The elders tried to pacify them, but failed, said the police. The police firing and violence that followed left five teenagers and a 33-year-old man dead.
{{/usCountry}}Various theories are being put forward for the reasons for the violence. It could be an attempt to subvert locals’ movement against some meat-processing units, said officers.
“Commissioner’s inquiry will reveal the reasons,” SSP Prashant Kumar said.