Search and arrest op continues in riot-hit Ballabgarh village

The riot-hit Atali village continued to be tense on Sunday after the police picked up 68 people in connection with the communal violence.

The riot-hit Atali village continued to be tense on Sunday after the police picked up 68 people in connection with the communal violence.

The detentions on Saturday resulted in protests against the administration.

On Sunday, nine of the 68 people detained were produced in a local court while the rest were allowed to go.

Police said they were searching for 2,100 people who have ben named in the several FIRs that were registered in the aftermath of the communal violence in the Haryana village on may 25.

On Sunday, too the police continued to track those who have named in the complaints amid protests by local villages. A huge contingent of police has been deployed to control any untoward incident.

“The crackdown upon those wanted for violence will continue,” said Ballabgarh police commissioner Bhupinder Singh.

Atali witnessed communal violence on May 25 in which houses of some Muslims were torched, forcing them to flee the village. These families later sought shelter at the Ballabgarh city police station.

The Hindus claim the land on which the mosque is being built belongs to panchayat whereas the Muslims claim the land belonged to Wakf board. On Sunday, police personnel were checking identity of the people who were entering the village. Some officers said many people named in the FIRs have gone into hiding.

“On one hand, we try to build trust with the Muslims and speak of peace and on the other hand, the police gherao our houses and make arrests,” said Prehlad Singh, a village resident.